[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 447 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 447

  Condemning the recent convictions and sentencing of Vietnamese pro-
 democracy activists, expressing concern over the future of the United 
          States-Vietnam relationship, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 24, 2007

 Mr. Blumenauer submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                  to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Condemning the recent convictions and sentencing of Vietnamese pro-
 democracy activists, expressing concern over the future of the United 
          States-Vietnam relationship, and for other purposes.

Whereas it is widely recognized that the Government of the Socialist Republic of 
        Vietnam had taken steps to improve its human rights record in the months 
        before the granting of Permanent Normal Trade Relations to Vietnam by 
        the United States and its accession to the World Trade Organization in 
        January 2007;
Whereas Permanent Normal Trade Relations were intended to strengthen the 
        bilateral relationship between the United States and Vietnam;
Whereas the strength of the relationship between the United States and Vietnam 
        depends on progress towards democracy and respect for human rights and 
        religious freedom in Vietnam;
Whereas since that time, Vietnam has engaged in a crackdown on pro-democracy 
        activists and political dissidents;
Whereas on May 10, 2007, Huynh Nguyen Dao, Nguyen Bac Truyen, and Le Nguyen Sang 
        were sentenced, respectively, to three, four, and five years in prison;
Whereas on May 11, 2007, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan were sentenced to 
        five and four years in prison, respectively;
Whereas on May 15, 2007, Tran Quoc Hien was sentenced to five years in prison;
Whereas all of these pro-democracy activists were convicted of ``disseminating 
        slanderous and libelous information against the State'';
Whereas Le Quoc Quan, a former fellow with the National Endowment for Democracy, 
        Tran Thuy Trang, and Truong Quoc Huy continue to be detained without 
        trial for their peaceful political activities;
Whereas according to Reporters Without Borders, ``It is the worst series of 
        arrests and sentences since 2002.'';
Whereas these convictions violate Article 69 of the Vietnamese Constitution, 
        which states that ``The citizen shall enjoy freedom of opinion and 
        speech, freedom of the press, the right to be informed and the right to 
        assemble, form associations and hold demonstrations in accordance with 
        the provisions of the law.''; and
Whereas these convictions are in contravention of the rights enshrined in the 
        International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which 
        Vietnam is a state party, specifically Article 19 (freedom of 
        expression) and Article 22 (freedom of association); Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1)   condemns in the strongest terms the convictions and 
        sentencing of Tran Quoc Hien, Huynh Nguyen Dao, Nguyen Bac 
        Truyen, Le Nguyen Sang, Nguyen Van Dai, and Le Thi Cong Nhan 
        and the continued detention of Le Quoc Quan, Tran Thuy Trang, 
        and Truong Quoc Huy by the Government of the Socialist Republic 
        of Vietnam;
            (2)   calls for their immediate and unconditional release 
        and the dropping of all criminal charges, and for the immediate 
        and unconditional release of all other political and religious 
        prisoners in Vietnam;
            (3)   expresses its concern over the future of the United 
        States-Vietnam bilateral relationship unless Vietnam 
        demonstrates progress towards democracy and respect for human 
        rights and religious freedom; and
            (4) urges the President to use the upcoming visit of the 
        President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the United 
        States as an opportunity to publicly call for progress towards 
        democracy and respect for human rights and religious freedom in 
        Vietnam.
                                 <all>