E/CN.4/1999/58/Add.2 page 15 55. According to the representative in Ho Chi Minh City, the teaching of Buddhism was independent, whereas the list of candidate students had to be submitted to the authorities, which always gave their approval. In reply to the question by the Special Rapporteur concerning the presence of false bonzes in the pagodas, it was stated to be an epiphenomenon. 56. The representatives in Hue and Ho Chi Minh City said that Buddhism could contribute to the development of Viet Nam and, reciprocally, achieve its own development. They hoped that financial circumstances would improve to enable Buddhism to make progress through places of worship and training institutes. 57. On the subject of the EBUV, the representatives of the Buddhist Association of Viet Nam explained that the leaders of that organization had refused to become united within the Association because of their own understanding of the development of Buddhism and of State-controlled institutions. 58. Representatives in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City stated that the arrests of the EBUV leaders were more particularly linked to their non-acceptance of the Buddhist Association of Viet Nam and of the political regime, as well as their activities outside the sole recognized Buddhist association. 59. One representative said that the leaders of the Buddhist Association of Viet Nam could, on the one hand, ask the Government to amnesty the arrested monks and, on the other, approach the authorities in cases of arbitrary arrest. A representative in Hue said that the Buddhist Association of Viet Nam had no views on these arrests and sentences, which were a matter for the State. 60. One representative in Hue explained that many EBUV members had rejoined the Buddhist Association of Viet Nam and that, however strong it might have been in the past, the EBUV no longer represented more than a minority of Buddhists. He added that the EBUV nevertheless still claimed to represent the majority and accused the Buddhist Association of Viet Nam of being a State-controlled organization. In connection with the Special Rapporteur's information concerning the demonstration by 40,000 bonzes in Hue on 24 March 1993 and the arrests of Thich Khong Than, Thich Nhat Ban and Thich Hai Chanh, the representative in Hue queried the number of demonstrators, the figure of 40,000 bonzes being an unrealistic one, in comparison with a population of Hue estimated at 100,000, and one which must have included passers-by. He added that the demonstration had been the act of young bonzes who had caused some disorder in respect of the Buddhist Association of Viet Nam and emphasized that the cases of imprisonment were based on charges of breaches of the peace. 61. On the subject of the Khmers Krom and the allegation of their marginalization, including religious marginalization, the representative of the Buddhist Association of Viet Nam in Hanoi said that, while minor problems existed, their situation was generally satisfactory. It was stated that the Buddhist Association of Viet Nam was supporting the Khmers Krom, particularly by sending bonzes on study courses abroad. The representative at Hue said that the Khmers Krom were represented on the Central Committee of the Buddhist Association of Viet Nam.