Police of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province requested TMV Thich Vinh Phuoc, abbot of Phuoc Buu temple (Phuoc Thuan village, Xuyen Moc district), not to post articles critical of local authorities and other social issues on Facebook.

The request was given to the abbot in a working session on 13 July at the district police office. Three times the police issued their invitation to the abbot to turn up for working sessions with them, 'about saying things that show sign of violating the law on cyberspace'.

TMV Thich Vinh Phuoc, of the independent Unified Buddhist Church, told RFA Viet on 14 July:

'In the working session, [the police of Ba Ria Vung Tau province and Xuyen Moc district] gave me a document which looks like a written pledge that they wanted me to [agree to], that from now on, I won't write articles and post them on Facebook to criticise this and that. They said I must use my time for religious worshipping, I shouldn't speak up on social issues that affect the nation...'

As a member of Vietnam Interfaith Council - which advocates for religious freedom, TMV Thich Vinh Phuoc said he refused the police request and will continue to exercise his freedom of expression on social media.

'I have the rights as a citizen, I have the right to express by views on absolutely anything, writing of Facebook is my human right.' He said.

He said, like Thien Quang pagoda, Phuoc Buu Temple has also been subject to authorities' harassment, the temple has not been allowed to build a number of construction for worshipping purposes.