118 HRES 1222 IH: Condemning the Communist Party of Vietnam for imprisoning independent journalists, human rights defenders, religious figures, and dissidents in Vietnam.
U.S. House of Representatives
2024-05-10
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IV
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1222
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
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.