E/CN.4/1999/58/Add.2 page 19 (h) The Catholic Church would like to be able to participate in educational activities and to establish social and hospital services; and (i) A visit by the Pope is ardently desired. 74. It emerged from the conversations with the representatives of the Catholic Church that the improvements noted in the religious field were often regarded as a sort of laissez-faire approved by the authorities which does not, however, represent any assurance or guarantee of a policy and legislation favourable to freedom of religion and its manifestations. It was thus a matter more of implicit connivance and favours granted than of indisputable rights. We may, incidentally, note the establishment in 1983 of a Vietnamese Catholic Solidarity Committee, which is said to be dependent on the authorities, is allegedly far from representative, however, and does not constitute a real problem for the Catholic Church. 75. With regard to religious prisoners, representatives of the Catholic Church said that three Catholics were detained in camp Z30A in Xuan Loc, and one Catholic in camp 5, group 25, in Thieu Yen, Thanh Hoa. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur was also informed by Catholic officials that two priests detained in camp Z30A, Nguyen Viet Hien and Nguyen Chan Dat, had been released on 24 October 1998. 3. Other non-governmental information 76. Safe, reliable non-governmental sources have confirmed the presence of three Catholic monks in camp Z30A: John Bosco Pham Minh Tri, Bernard Nguyen Viet Huan and Michael Nguyen Van Tinh; John Bosco Pham Minh Tri is reported to be suffering from mental health problems. C. Cao Dai community 77. The information below was obtained from the authorities, the Management Committee of the Cao Dai Holy See and various non-governmental sources. 78. It will be recalled that the Special Rapporteur was unable to meet the Cao Dai clergy from the Council of Priests (dissolved in 1979; see below, para. 83) who wished to submit a file of grievances. After the Special Rapporteur's mission, their representatives gave the following information: the priest Le Quang Tan (Ho Chi Minh City) and Archbishop Thai The Thanh (in Tay Ninh) were reported to have been prevented by the police from meeting the Special Rapporteur, while Mr. Pham Cong Hien and Ms. Le Kim Bien (Kien Giang province) were reported to have been arrested. 1. Information from the authorities 79. With regard to the situation of the Cao Dai community, the information on State policy in respect of religion, obtained from the authorities and contained in chapter II, is still valid.

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