[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1222 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1222

 Condemning the Communist Party of Vietnam for imprisoning independent 
journalists, human rights defenders, religious figures, and dissidents 
                              in Vietnam.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 10, 2024

    Mrs. Steel (for herself and Mr. Correa) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Condemning the Communist Party of Vietnam for imprisoning independent 
journalists, human rights defenders, religious figures, and dissidents 
                              in Vietnam.

Whereas independent journalists, human rights defenders, religious figures, and 
        dissidents in Vietnam are arrested for exercising their right to freedom 
        of speech;
Whereas the Communist Party of Vietnam holds the second highest number of 
        political prisoners of any of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
        (ASEAN) member states;
Whereas the Ministry of Public Service assaults prisoners to extract 
        information, uses excessive force while on duty, tortures detainees, 
        uses forced labor, and prevents prisoners from having access to health 
        care;
Whereas detention centers and prisons in Vietnam lack access to potable water 
        and have poor sanitation facilities, excessive heat during the summer 
        season, and insufficient as well as unclean food;
Whereas over 170 Vietnamese political and religious prisoners are currently 
        detained in Vietnam, nearly half of whom were arrested due to expression 
        or activities online;
Whereas democracy activist Tran Huynh Duy Thuc was arrested on May 24, 2009, and 
        was sentenced to 16 years in prison;
Whereas environmental activist Le Dinh Luong was arrested on July 24, 2017, and 
        was sentenced to 20 years in prison;
Whereas Radio Free Asia contributor and journalist Truong Duy Nhat was arrested 
        on January 28, 2019, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison;
Whereas Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam member and journalist 
        Pham Chi Dung was arrested on November 21, 2019, and was sentenced to 15 
        years in prison;
Whereas Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam member and journalist 
        Nguyen Tuong Thuy was arrested on May 23, 2020, and was sentenced to 11 
        years in prison;
Whereas Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam member and journalist Le 
        Huu Minh Tuan was arrested on June 12, 2020, and was sentenced to 11 
        years in prison;
Whereas land rights activist Can Thi Theu was arrested on June 24, 2020, and was 
        sentenced to 8 years in prison;
Whereas land rights activist Trinh Ba Phuong was arrested on June 24, 2020, and 
        was sentenced to 10 years in prison;
Whereas land rights activist Trinh Ba Tu was arrested on June 24, 2020, and was 
        sentenced to 8 years in prison;
Whereas land rights activist Nguyen Thi Tam was arrested on June 24, 2020, and 
        was sentenced to 6 years in prison;
Whereas blogger Pham Doan Trang was arrested on October 6, 2020, and was 
        sentenced to 9 years in prison;
Whereas writer Pham Chi Thanh was arrested on May 21, 2020, and was sentenced to 
        5 years and 6 months in prison;
Whereas Clean Newspaper (Bao Sach) member and journalist Truong Chau Huu Danh 
        was arrested on December 17, 2020, and was sentenced to 4 years and 6 
        months in prison;
Whereas Clean Newspaper (Bao Sach) member and journalist Doan Kien Giang was 
        arrested on April 20, 2021, and was sentenced to 3 years in prison;
Whereas Clean Newspaper (Bao Sach) member and journalist Nguyen Phuoc Trung Bao 
        was arrested on April 20, 2021, and was sentenced to 2 years in prison;
Whereas Clean Newspaper (Bao Sach) member and journalist Nguyen Thanh Nha was 
        arrested on April 20, 2021, and was sentenced to 2 years in prison;
Whereas Clean Newspaper (Bao Sach) member and journalist Le The Thang was 
        arrested on July 6, 2021, and was sentenced to 3 years in prison;
Whereas democracy activist Do Nam Trung was arrested on July 6, 2021, and was 
        sentenced to 10 years in prison;
Whereas independent political candidate Le Trong Hung was arrested on March 25, 
        2021, and was sentenced to 5 years in prison;
Whereas journalist Nguyen Lan Thang was arrested on July 5, 2022, and was 
        sentenced to 6 years in prison and 2 years of probation;
Whereas activist Truong Van Dung was arrested on May 21, 2022, and was sentenced 
        to 6 years in prison;
Whereas activist Bui Tuan Lam was arrested on September 7, 2022, and was 
        sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison;
Whereas teacher Dang Dang Phuoc was arrested was arrested on September 8, 2022, 
        and was sentenced to 8 years in prison and 4 years of probation;
Whereas activist Hoang Van Vuong was arrested on January 3, 2023, and was 
        sentenced to 5 years in prison;
Whereas political commentator Le Minh The was arrested on February 22, 2023, and 
        was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison;
Whereas environmental activist Hoang Thi Minh Hong was arrested on May 31, 2023, 
        and was sentenced to 3 years in prison;
Whereas a former prisoner of conscience Nguyen Hoang Nam was arrested on July 
        24, 2023, and was sentenced to 8 years in prison;
Whereas activist To Hoang Chuong was arrested on July 31, 2023, and was 
        sentenced to 4 years in prison;
Whereas comedian Nguyen Phuc Gia Huy was detained, beaten, and fined on August 
        15, 2023;
Whereas blogger Nguyen Chi Tuyen was arrested on February 29, 2024; and
Whereas journalist Nguyen Vu Binh was arrested on February 29, 2024: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns Vietnamese authorities' egregious assault on 
        freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, 
        and human rights in Vietnam;
            (2) condemns Vietnamese authorities' ongoing imprisonment 
        of peaceful protestors, cultural figures, journalists, and 
        human rights defenders;
            (3) calls for the immediate release of journalists, human 
        rights defenders, religious figures, and dissidents currently 
        held as prisoners in Vietnam;
            (4) calls on the Biden administration to support 
        initiatives to assist survivors of torture and other human 
        rights violations from Vietnam;
            (5) commends the bravery of the Vietnamese people who 
        protest the Communist Party of Vietnam's autocracy;
            (6) calls on the Biden administration to examine all 
        available accountability options for violators of human rights 
        and fundamental freedoms;
            (7) calls on the United States Government to engage 
        regional partners, including the Association of Southeast Asian 
        Nations (ASEAN), to coordinate pressure on the Communist Party 
        of Vietnam to end all oppression of the Vietnamese people and 
        to address all related human rights concerns;
            (8) condemns the United Nations General Assembly for 
        electing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the United 
        Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC); and
            (9) supports the aspirations of the Vietnamese people in 
        their struggle for freedom and human rights.
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