[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: May 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Mrs. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on Post Office and Civil Service be discharged from further
consideration of the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 168)
designating May 11, 1994, as ``Vietnam Human Rights Day,'' and ask for
its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate joint resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Virginia?
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I yield to
the distinguished gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman].
(Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Missouri [Mr.
Clay], the distinguished Chair of the House Post Office and Civil
Service Committee and our good minority member, the gentleman from
Indiana [Mr. Myers] for bringing this important initiative before us
today and I rise in strong of House Joint Resolution 333, a resolution
to commemorate May 11, 1994, as Vietnam Human Rights Day.
Vietnam remains one of the last communist countries in the world and
maintains one of the most repressive political and social systems. Free
expression is denied and most Vietnamese writers and poets have been
denied the right to publish or compose since 1975. The Vietnamese
constitution still designates the Communist party as the ``Force
Leading the State and Society''. Vietnam's criminal law is used to
punish nonviolent advocates of political pluralism, through charges
such as attempting to overthrow the people's government or
antisocialist propaganda. Even nonviolent political movements for
democracy consisting of former national liberation front members such
as the league of former revolutionaries have been repressed and its
leaders remain under house arrest. Most prominent leaders from the
Buddhist, Catholic, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao, and protestant faiths are in
prison or under house arrest for expressing their religious beliefs.
Mr. Chairman, there is more than enough reason to designate a day to
educate the public and draw attention to the issue. Accordingly, I
support House Joint Resolution 333 and urge my colleagues to support
the resolution.
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I
do so to yield to the gentlewoman from Virginia [Mrs. Byrne]. the
gentlewoman is the chief sponsor of House Joint Resolution 333, which
would designate May 11, 1994, as ``Vietnam Human Rights Day.''
Mrs. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to
thank my distinguished colleagues who have joined me as cosponsors of
the resolution I introduced to designate May 11, 1994, as ``Vietnam
Human Rights Day.''
This day commemorates the fourth anniversary of the Manifesto of the
Non-Violent Movement for Human Rights in Vietnam, issued by Dr. Nguyen
Dan Que, a human rights advocate and political prisoner being held in
solitary confinement in Vietnam. He was the first member of Amnesty
International in Vietnam and arrested by the Socialist government in
1978 for rebellion against the regime, even though his protests were
solely nonviolent.
With his case in mind, along with thousands of others, such as those
of Buddhist monks and religious leaders, the resolution calls upon
Hanoi to respect basic human rights, accept a multiparty system, and
restore the right of the Vietnamese people to choose their own form of
government through free and fair elections. While this resolution does
not take binding action, it has become an issue of great importance to
Vietnamese throughout our Nation and in Vietnam.
The passage of Vietnam Human Rights Day is a symbol of American
resolve in the area of foreign policy. First, it confirms the necessity
of placing human rights at the center of United States policy toward
Vietnam and reminds us of what we stand for as a nation. Our Nation has
always defined itself by the principles that are set forth in the
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The values these
great documents hold must continue to guide our actions and vision of
our foreign policy.
Second, this resolution demonstrates that America will not ignore the
plight of those Vietnamese citizens who suffer as prisoners of
conscience under the Socialist regime. Those who are put in solitary
confinement for their political views, Buddhist monks who are arrested
and charged with traveling without permission, human rights advocates
who are tortured for issuing nonviolent statements, and hundreds of
citizens who are imprisoned in dungeons without a fair trial will not
be forgotten by the United States and its citizens. Just as the world
has welcomed South Africa into the community of nations after their
recent elections, the people of Vietnam dream of such a day when they
will be honored for their movement toward democracy.
Endorsed by veterans groups ranging from the American Legion to the
American Ex-Prisoners Of War, I am optimistic that this will encourage
Vietnam to go down the road of becoming a more open, democratic, and
pluralistic society.
On behalf of the thousands of Vietnamese in my district and
throughout the Nation, I want to thank my colleagues for cosponsoring
this resolution and for bringing this issue to the forefront.
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I
wish to again thank the gentlewoman from Virginia [Mrs. Byrne] for
introducing this important resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from American Samoa [Mr.
Faleomavaega].
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my sincere
appreciation to the gentlewoman from Virginia [Mrs. Byrne] for bringing
forward this initiative, and for her leadership in sponsoring House
Joint Resolution 333, the companion legislation to Senate Joint
Resolution 168.
I certainly commend the gentlewoman for this, as well as our good
friend, the gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs. Morella], for bringing this
piece of legislation before the Members for consideration.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of a group of Members who has served in the
Vietnam War, this is really a historic moment, at least in my humble
opinion, for bringing again to the forefront a sense of recognition of
this very important issue as it affects our relationship with the
Republic of Vietnam. I certainly want to thank the gentlewoman from
Virginia [Mrs. Byrne] for doing this.
Mr. Speaker, I want to say also that I hope this legislation will be
an initiative to make the leaders of the Republic of Vietnam cognizant
of the civil rights of the citizens of Vietnam.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the gentlewoman from Virginia [Mrs.
Byrne] for taking this initiative also to the effect that we are also
not to forget some 2,300 POW's and MIA's that are still unaccounted
for. I would certainly like to commend this administration for their
sincere efforts in seeing that we settle this issue with the officials
of the Vietnam Government.
Mr. Speaker, I want to also say that on the question of human rights,
I realize this is one of the important issues that the administration
has taken up, and it is certainly important with the Members of this
body. More importantly, we should recognized human rights, especially
for the good citizens of Vietnam, I feel that this piece of legislation
is most befiting.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs. Morella] for
yielding.
{time} 1850
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection, I
just want to thank the gentleman for his very eloquent, sincere
statement on behalf of this resolution. I reiterate my commendation to
the gentlewoman from Virginia for introducing it and say I am proud to
be one of the cosponsors.
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Deal). Is there objection to the request
of the gentlewoman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the Senate joint resolution, as follows:
S.J. Res 168
Whereas May 11, 1994, is the fourth anniversary of the
issuance of the Manifesto of the Non-Violent Movement for
Human Rights in Vietnam;
Whereas the Manifesto, which calls upon Hanoi to respect
basic human rights, accept a multiparty system, and restore
the right of the Vietnamese people to choose their own form
of government through free and fair elections, reflects the
will and aspirations of the people of Vietnam;
Whereas the author of the Manifesto, Dr. Nguyen Dan Que,
and thousands of innocent Vietnamese, including religious
leaders, are imprisoned by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
because of their nonviolent struggle for freedom and human
rights;
Whereas the leaders of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
are seeking to expand diplomatic and trade relations with the
rest of the world;
Whereas the United States, as the leader of the free world,
has a special responsibility to safeguard freedom and promote
the protection of human rights throughout the world; and
Whereas the Congress urges Hanoi to release immediately and
unconditionally all political prisoners, including Dr. Nguyen
Dan Que, with full restoration of their civil and human
rights; guarantee equal protection under the law to all
Vietnamese, regardless of religious belief, political
philosophy, or previous associations; restore all basic human
rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, movement, and
association; abolish the single party system and permit the
functioning of all political organizations without
intimidation or harassment and announce a framework and
timetable for free and fair election under the sponsorship of
the United Nations that will allow the Vietnamese people to
choose their own form of government: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That May 11,
1994, is designated as ``Vietnam Human Rights Day'' in
support of efforts by the Non-Violent Movement for Human
Rights in Vietnam to achieve freedom and human rights for the
people of Vietnam, and the President is authorized and
requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of
the United States to commemorate such day with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.
amendment to the preamble offered by mrs. byrne
Mrs. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the preamble.
The Clerk read as follows:
Amendment to the preamble offered by Mrs. Byrne: In the 3d
whereas clause of the preamble, strike ``, Dr. Nguyen Dan
Que,''.
In the last whereas clause of the preamble, strike
``including Dr. Nguyen Dan Que,''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment to the
preamble offered by the gentlewoman from Virginia [Mrs. Byrne].
The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
The Senate joint resolution was ordered to be read a third time, was
read the third time, and passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________