A/HRC/16/45/Add.2 64. During the independent expert’s visit to Gia Lai Province, she sought information from the provincial Government regarding allegations of the arrest, trial and sentencing of numerous ethnic minority Christians and members of Protestant churches. Nongovernmental organizations maintain that the grounds for harassment were their religious activities and their protests over confiscations of land. The Vietnamese media reported the sentencing of numerous individuals to 7 to 12 years of imprisonment in 2009 and 2010 for the crime of “undermining national unity” in activities that included planning demonstrations. Independent non-governmental organizations claimed that more than 200 “Montagnard” Christians were imprisoned in Gia Lai as a result of peaceful religious activities and participation in demonstrations in 2001, 2004 and 2008. The Government insists that the offences for which they were convicted were “undermining national unity” through “acts against public security and order”. 65. Protestant leaders with whom the independent expert spoke in Hanoi during meetings arranged by the Government expressed satisfaction with their religious freedoms, stated that there are no restrictions on Protestant churches and would not comment on specific allegations. The Government issued instruction No. 01/2005/CT-TTg on 4 February 2004 “to address remaining concerns related to religious activities of Protestants, especially ethnic minority groups in the central highlands, as well as the Mong and Dao ethnic minority groups in the northern highlands, in order to normalize religious life of Protestants so that followers of this belief and religion can have peace of mind and remain closely connected to their communities”. The Government emphasizes that any trials and imprisonment were fully in accordance with the law and based on a criminal act, such as violence during demonstrations. 66. During the independent expert’s visit to Tra Vinh in the Mekong Delta, she consulted provincial authorities regarding the situation of ethnic minority Khmer and Khmer Theravada Buddhist monks. The Khmer leaders with whom the Government arranged for the expert to meet expressed their satisfaction with religious freedoms and Government actions. However, information provided to the expert would indicate interference with religious practices and harsh responses to protests conducted by ethnic Khmer. Khmer Theravada Buddhists come under the oversight of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha and reportedly desire greater autonomy over their religious affairs and activities, including decisions regarding ordinations, religious ceremonies and the content of religious studies offered at pagoda schools. Publicly available reports allege that, following peaceful demonstrations, numerous Khmer monks were defrocked by local authorities. Others have allegedly been imprisoned or face pagoda detention and surveillance. 67. Improvements in freedom of religion in Viet Nam have been reported. There has been an increase in religious activity by previously restricted religious groups. Reports of abuses of religious freedoms have diminished. Implementation of the legal framework on religious freedoms is considered to have improved, including at the provincial and local level, with positive results for religious rights. The number of religious organizations receiving national recognition has increased and some unrecognized churches have been allowed to practice with the knowledge of local officials. Some restrictions on large-scale religious gatherings and celebrations have reportedly been eased. 68. Training courses for local officials and religious leaders have been held to ensure appropriate implementation of policies, highlighting the fact that practices such as forced renunciation of faith are strictly forbidden. The Government has removed obstacles to the training of religious leaders for Catholics, Buddhists and Protestant religions, resulting in an increase in the number of monks, pastors and priests. Relations between the Government and the Catholic Church have reportedly continued to improve and a more positive attitude towards Protestant groups is suggested. The Government reported that, between 2005 and 2008, 3,277 places of worship were built, upgraded or renovated. A delegation from the 16