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"What is worrying is that no one knows if Vietnam's general 'promises' will translate into concrete commitments and action," one source told Compass. "With only about three months remaining before the U.S. must evaluate whether Vietnam has met expectations and decide the CPC issue for 2005, Vietnam should be required to make dramatic progress in terms of actual numbers of churches registered and denominations given legal status."

Some observers suspect Vietnam officials of making promises merely as a tactic to achieve objectives such as more trade with the U.S. and membership in the World Trade Organization.

The United States Commission for International Religious Freedom, which monitors the State Department's compliance with religious liberty legislation, also called for substance to replace promises in a May 9 news release.

A clear-cut test case of Vietnam's inclination to comply with the promises it made to the U.S. involves the Vietnam Mennonite Church. The wife of Nguyen Hong Quang, the denomination's imprisoned general secretary, wrote to the prime minister on her husband's behalf to ask if his "Instructions Concerning the Protestant Religion" would allow the Mennonites to complete official registration with the government.

On May 1, Ho Chi Minh City officials responded to Mrs. Quang's inquiry by conducting yet another police raid on the Quang family home, asserting that the Mennonites conduct illegal religious meetings there.

Among those detained at police headquarters for questioning in that raid was Mennonite prisoner-of-conscience Le Thi Hong Lien. The young woman, one of the 12 religious prisoners included in the special amnesty, had been released from prison just three days earlier. According to witnesses, the experience left Lien "exhausted and terrified."

According to one source in Vietnam, the government may have a harder time convincing its own local officials to make changes in religious policy than it has convincing American diplomats of its good intentions. To address the problem, Vietnam has apparently promised to educate public officials—from the highest to lowest echelons of government—about the proposed changes.

"This will not be an easy task, because for many years the official dogma—believed and taught from the top—is that Protestantism is an American religion bent on overthrowing the communist revolution," the source told Compass. "As such, it was commendable policy to discriminate against, harass and persecute Christians."

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Compass Direct earlier Vietnam coverage includes more articles about arrests of Christians in Vietnam:

Officials Break Up Mennonite Meeting, Arrest Christians | After just two days of freedom, Vietnamese prisoner-of-conscience Ms. Le Thi Hong Lien was arrested for attending a Bible study with other Christian believers on May 1 at the home of imprisoned pastor Nguyen Hong Quang. (May 3, 2005)

Le Thi Hong Lien Released | Unexpected freedom comes two days before special amnesty. (April 29, 2005)

Court Denies Mennonite Pastors' Appeal | Christians hold silent prayer vigil outside the courthouse. (April 13, 2005)

Reports on Vietnam from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom are available from their website.

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May (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49