[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 59 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E833-E834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN COMMEMORATION ON THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 1998

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the Fourth 
Anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights Day. I would also like to 
congratulate the International Committee for Freedom for organizing 
this important event and I commend the participants who have come 
together to promote human rights for Vietnam.
  I would like to take this opportunity to call on the Government of 
Vietnam to respect fundamental human rights and release their religious 
and political prisoners. The people of Vietnam have waited too long for 
these basic changes to take place.
  By commemorating Vietnam Human Rights Day, we confirm the necessity 
of placing human rights at the center of United States policy toward 
Vietnam.
  We, as a nation, and as a people, need to be steadfastly committed to 
human rights, democracy, economic liberty and religious freedom for all 
the people of Vietnam.

[[Page E834]]

  I strongly agree that democracy would not only contribute to regional 
stability and increased economic development of Vietnam, but also grant 
sorely-lacking civil liberties and basic freedoms to Vietnamese 
citizens.
  I have the privilege of representing Central Orange County, home to 
the largest Vietnamese-American population in the United States. Last 
year, I joined over 2,000 of my constituents to rally in support of 
human rights and democracy in Vietnam. We marched in protest of the 
human rights abuses and religious oppression by the current government 
in Thai Binh and Xuan Loc.
  I joined my constituents in sending a strong message to Hanoi--a 
message that these injustices will not be tolerated--a message that the 
Vietnamese Government must obey, respect and honor human and religious 
rights in Vietnam. We must remain strong, vocal, and active on our 
efforts to bring these human rights abuses to the attention of the 
international community.
  I applaud the efforts of the International Committee for Freedom, and 
members of the international community, who have come together today to 
commemorate this important day.

                          ____________________