[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.

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