Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 November 2011 22:38
Chùa Quang Minh - Buddhist Temple, Melbourne, Australia - Quang Minh Buddhist Temple
Venerable Thich Tue Sy
Born Pham Van Thuong on Feb. 15, 1941; scholar on Vietnamese Buddhism and co-editor (with Reverend Thich Tri Sieu) of the Encyclopedia of Buddhism; arrested on Apr. 2, 1984 with other Buddhist monks and followers at Gia Lam Temple and Van Hanh Pagoda; founder of the Free Vietnam Force (FVF - Luc Luong Viet Nam Tu Do) and writer of its Manifesto; prosecuted together with 20 other FVF members in Sep. 1988 and sentenced to death; his sentence was subsequently commuted to 20 years by the Supreme People's Court in Nov. 1988 in the face of mounting opposition by the international community and the Vietnamese community overseas; in Apr. 1989, transferred to "re-education" camp Z30A, Xuan Loc district, Dong Nai province; then returned to "re-education" camp 20A, Xuan Phuoc district, Phu Yen province, where he was jailed for the first time from Jun. 1978 through Feb. 1980; then detained at Ba Sao Camp, Ha Nam Ninh Province. Adopted by US Congressman Howard Berman. Released in Sep. 1998.