E/CN.4/2006/5/Add.1 Page 99 in the Central Highlands with a view to inciting acts of overthrowing the legal government and establishing a separatist State in the Central Highlands. This violates the Constitution and laws of Viet Nam. The Government of Viet Nam never allows the use of “Degars C hristianity” as a cover -up for the purpose of undermining the national unity, sabotaging the people’s normal life and overthrowing the administration. Local authorities have taken measures to help local people realize the real nature of “Degars Christianity” and advise them to be vigilant at attempts of separation or riots. The information and allegations provided to you and contained in the letter concerning “Degars Christianity” are totally untrue. Communication sent on 14 October 2005 with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression 479. The Special Rapporteurs had received information according to which, on 21 August 2005 local public security police chief, Dinh Van Hoanh, and his deputy, Thai Mai Quan, came to the home of evangelist Dinh Van Hoang, member of the Hre minority, Quang Ngai Province, and told him that Christians were not accepted there. They asked him to sign a pape r denying his Christian faith, which Dinh Van Hoang refused. The two officials indicated that he would have to give up his religious faith or face the destruction of his home. When Hoang refused, a mob including war veterans, local defense forces, young pe ople and village chief Dinh Van Xoa forced its way into his house. They demanded once more that he and his wife give up Christianity, which they rejected. So they burned down the house. 480. This was the latest in a series of incidents aiming at forcing Dinh Van Hoang and his family to abandon Christianity. His house had been burned down twice before; also he and his family were beaten and forced to participate in pagan practices in the past; there had been repeated attempts to defame Hoang by the official Vie tnam News Service (accusing him of “luring people to believe in nonsense and refuse to work” and of not having official residence registration). Between 26 and 31 July 2005 authorities in Son Tinh district destroyed the homes of 10 Hre families because the y refused to give up their Christian faith. Response dated 5 January 2006 481. The Government informed that the information contained in the communication was totally untrue. It informed that local people burnt down the house due to personal disagreements. The Local Authority provided assistance to Hoang in rebuilding the house. Hoang subsequently left the locality and went to live in Son Thuong in Quang Ngai province. While he was there, he seized land used by Hre people. As a result, local Hre people set his house on fire on 21 August 2005. The Local Authority provided assistance to Hoang in rebuilding the house. 482. Regarding the allegation that the homes of 10 Hre families were destroyed, the Government informed that as a part of the implementation of Government Programme 134/CP and a plan for socio-economic development in the village, a number of families should have moved to other areas for resettlement. The majority of the families moved voluntarily. As a result of mediation, six of the seven families that did not move voluntarily have now settled in new areas.