E/CN.4/2000/65 page 25 congregation, which was banned by the security forces. In April 1999, in Chardzhev, a Jehovah’s Witness was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on the grounds of his conscientious objection. Ukraine 98. The duration of alternative service for conscientious objectors is apparently punitive in nature. Moreover, it is said that only members of officially registered religious communities whose doctrines prohibit military service can perform alternative service. Christian communities which are not indigenous to Ukraine reportedly encounter difficulties. The legislation on freedom of conscience and religion apparently states that the religious activities of foreigners must be confined strictly within the framework of the host organizations and must be approved by the authorities which registered the congregations concerned. The procedures for the registration of religious organizations originating outside Ukraine were said to be delayed by the local and regional authorities, and this allegedly impedes the acquisition of property. The Seventh Day Adventists reportedly encounter difficulties in educational institutions in the case of examinations scheduled for the Sabbath. The same problem apparently arises in the workplace. Viet Nam 99. In May 1999, in Hanoi, the security forces allegedly interrupted a bible meeting in a hotel which was being sponsored by the Assemblies of the Church of God: the 20 participants in this religious activity were allegedly arrested for disturbing public order; 18 of them were then released. Reverend Paul Tran Dinh Ai was reportedly held in detention for one month with no indication of the specific charges against him. The Christian communities in the province of Binh Phuoc allegedly applied to the authorities for authorizations to build new buildings intended for worship because the places of worship they had been using until then were dilapidated and in order to meet urgent needs resulting from the increase in the number of followers. No permission was reportedly granted by the authorities and the followers therefore built a place of worship without authorization, in order to cope with the emergency. In June 1999, police officers, soldiers and other law enforcement officials reportedly destroyed the building and threatened to destroy others and to arrest anyone involved in the unauthorized construction of places of worship. In September 1999, in Ho Chi Minh City, the bonze Thich Nhat Ban was reportedly arrested twice by the police on charges of belonging to an illegal organization, the United Buddhist Church of Viet Nam (EBUV), and trying to overthrow the Government. Several of his EBUV documents were confiscated. He allegedly stated that the intention of the United Buddhist Church of Viet Nam was not to undermine the State, but to enjoy freedom of religion. The bonze Thich Tue Sy, Secretary-General of the EBUV Dharma Propagation Institute, was reportedly also interrogated by security officials who accused him of attempting to overthrow the Government. A diskette that belonged to him and contained translations of sutras and EBUV documents was allegedly confiscated. 100. Viet Nam replied in connection with the case of Reverend Tran Dinh Ai, stating that the incident had already been settled in May 1999. The competent Vietnamese authorities confirmed that he was not under arrest.