1997 Sect’s assault on mourners at funeral of Cao Dai follower in Truong Hoa Commune, Town of Hoa Thanh, Tay Ninh Province
On October 31 and again on November 1, 2024, over 15 members of the state-created and controlled 1997 Cao Dai Sect, accompanied by thugs and people suspected of being government cadres wearing facemasks, forced their way into a private home in Tây Ninh Province and violently disrupted a funeral because the deceased’s family did not invite Sect members to attend the funeral rite. The intruders threw rocks, chairs, bottles and punches at the mourners, causing injuries to some. They stole accessories to musical instruments used as part of the funeral rite. Both the 1997 Cao Dai Sect leadership and the Vietnamese police turned a blind eye to this massive violation. On November 25, 2024, 16 victims and witnesses requested in writing that the police initiate criminal investigation against the attackers. On December 10, 2024 the People’s Procuracy of the Town of Hoa Thanh notified petitioners that they had transferred their request to the Investigation Unit of the Public Security of the Town of Hoa Thanh. According to regulations, this investigation unit must respond within 20 days, i.e., no later than December 31, 2024. That deadline has long passed without any words from this unit.
Incident report submitted to UN Special Procedures
Documentary video:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1088426352504874&rdid=3EKImVRlljf5zGYg
Raw footages:
https://www.facebook.com/vietnam.bac.75/videos/1083413099522608
https://www.facebook.com/xuanluong.duong.90/videos/1493701201349749
https://www.facebook.com/VNFoRB/videos/579002791329736
https://www.facebook.com/VNFoRB/videos/1612178379644817
Identified Perpetrators
Below is the partial list of perpetrators identified by their victims. This list will be updated with new information to assist the investigation unit of the district police and to recommend targeted sanctions by the U.S. and other governments.

Executive Committee Chair Năm Hui, Chair, Trường Long Parish of the 1997 Sect

Mr. Vàng, Executive Committee of Trường Lợi Parish of the 1997 Sect

Mr. Tâm, Executive Committee of Trường Long Parish of the 1997 Sect, and a suspected government cadre wearing facemask

A thug accompanying members of the 1997 Sect
Updates on victims’ request for criminal investigation:
Nov 16, 2024 — Incident Report submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on FoRB
Nov 25, 2024 — Report of criminal offenses to the Procuracy of the Town of Hoa Thanh – Vietnamese original
Dec 10, 2024 — Notice of transfer to Investigation Unit Bilingual (English – Vietnamese)
Dec 31, 2024 — Deadline for investigation unit to respond — missed
Jan 1, 2025 — Ms. Tran Thanh Tuyet’s reminder Bà Trần Thanh Tuyết gửi đơn yêu cầu báo tin giải quyết đơn tố giác tội phạm
Jan 13, 2025 — Invitation to “police work session” sent to witness Mr. Tran Ngoc Suong Ông Sương nhận giấy mời làm việc
Jan 14, 2025 — Mr. Tran Ngoc Suong’s request for conditions for work session Ông Trần Ngọc Sương gửi văn bản yêu cầu chấp thuận các điều kiện làm việc
Jan 22, 2025 — Invitation to “police work session” sent to victim-witness Mr. Nguyen Anh Phung Cơ quan điều tra tiếp tục mời ông Phụng (nạn nhân) tới làm việc