IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1515 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 14, 2010 Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California (for herself and Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Calling on the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to uphold and respect basic human rights by releasing three women democracy activists, writer Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan, and cyber-activist Pham Thanh Nghien.

Whereas the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam criminalizes freedom of expression and denies citizens their right to assemble, associate, and worship freely; Whereas the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is designated an enemy of the Internet by human rights groups and routinely persecutes bloggers and cyber activists; Whereas the human rights violations are an impediment to Vietnam’s socioeconomic development and deepening of United States-Vietnam relations; Whereas democracy activist and blogger Tran Khai Thanh Thuy was detained for nine months in 2007 for supporting peaceful demonstrations against corruption; Whereas according to the United States Embassy in Hanoi, Ms. Thuy was beaten and arrested again in October 2009 after publicly expressing support for democracy activists on trial; Whereas Ms. Thuy was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment for physical assault in February 2010; Whereas Ms. Thuy is suffering from diabetes and advanced tuberculosis and was not granted appropriate medical care; Whereas attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan was arrested in March 2007 after calling for freedom of association and multi-party democracy; Whereas Ms. Nhan was denied the chance to represent herself in court and went on hunger strikes in order to protest poor conditions in prison; Whereas, after three years imprisonment, Ms. Nhan is now under house arrest for an additional three years and denied her civil rights; Whereas Pham Thanh Nghien, a cyber activist who advocated on behalf of landless farmers and Vietnamese fishermen attacked by the Chinese navy, was detained in spring 2008 while protesting the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay; Whereas Ms. Nghien was detained for days without charge and was harassed by the security police when she wrote an official request to organize a protest; Whereas Ms. Nghien was arrested again in September 2008 and sentenced to four years in prison, followed by three years of house arrest; Whereas the Adopt a Voice of Conscience Campaign was launched in the House of Representatives urging Members of Congress to be a voice for the voiceless by standing up for women democracy activists in Vietnam; and Whereas it is in the interest of the United States to support Vietnamese aspirations for democracy and freedom: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)calls on the President and the Department of State to use diplomatic pressure to urge the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to uphold and respect basic human rights; (2)calls on the United States Ambassador to Vietnam to visit Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, Le Thi Cong Nhan, and Pham Thanh Nghien, ensure their personal safety, and help provide for necessary medical attention; and (3)calls on the President and Secretary of State to directly request the freedom of Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, Le Thi Cong Nhan, and Pham Thanh Nghien.