The National Traffic Safety Committee in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) and Nam Dinh provincial VBS held a grand requiem for victims of traffic accidents 2015 on Nov. 8 at Truc Lam Thien Truong monastery.
Attending the ceremony were Most Venerable Chairman of the VBS Executive Council Thích Thiện Nhơn, Most Venerable Standing Vice Chairman of the VBS Executive Council Thích Thanh Nhiễu, representatives from the VBS Discernment Council and Executive Council, as well as Buddhist monks and nuns from the VBS Executive Committee from provinces of Thai Binh, Ninh Binh, Ha Nam and Nam Dinh, and over 7,000 Buddhist followers inside and outside Nam Dinh province.
State officials at the event included Minister of Transport Ministry cum Vice Chairman of National Traffic Safety Committee Đinh La Thăng, Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Bùi Thanh Hà, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Lê Bá Trình, Secretary of Nam Dinh provincial Party Committee Đoàn Hồng Phong, Chairman of Nam Dinh provincial People’s Committee Phạm Đình Nghị.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Đinh La Thăng stated that currently, traffic accidents in Vietnam cause approximately 24 deaths and 60 injuries each day. He said traffic accidents not only create great loss and pain to victim’s families but also leave a burden on the authorities and society in dealing with their consequences.
He also called upon central and local agencies, organizations and individuals to raise awareness of traffic safety and strictly observe traffic laws, as well as share losses and pain with people who lost their relatives in traffic accidents.
Most Venerable Standing Vice Chairman of the VBS Executive Council Thích Thanh Nhiễu speaks at the ceremony
During the event, Most Venerable Thích Thanh Nhiễu emphasized that this event is also a message of the VBS urging Buddhists across the country and the social community to comply with the laws, rules of traffic safety in order to minimize traffic accidents.
This is the fourth year the National Traffic Safety Committee in collaboration with the State ministries, agencies and organizations organized memorial activities for victims of traffic accidents responding to the World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Road Traffic Accidents, which falls on Nov. 15 this year.
Overview of the ceremony
Nguyễn Khuê
