[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 150 (Tuesday, October 20, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H11552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COMMUNIST VIETNAM RELEASES 80-YEAR-OLD BUDDHIST MONK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, this year I joined the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren) 
in establishing the formation of the ``Adopt a Voice of Conscience in 
Vietnam Campaign'' in this House of Representatives.
  We established this task force to bring attention to the human rights 
violations in Vietnam and to generate pressure for the release of all 
prisoners who have been in house arrest, in prison or in other forms of 
detention. As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to 
highlight what is going on in Vietnam against religion and freedom of 
speech.
  We need to focus the public attention on Vietnam's repression against 
freedom of expression so that it becomes a part of the United States 
policy towards communist Vietnam. With Members of Congress adopting 
prisoners, we can successfully advocate for religious prisoners 
suffering persecution at the hands of this Vietnamese government.
  Well, Mr. Speaker, we now have evidence that our efforts are working. 
On September 2, the Government of Vietnam released over 5,000 political 
and religious prisoners. Included in the release was Mr. Tran Huu 
Duyen, a Buddhist monk who is a member of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Church 
located in my district. I have been notified that he is now at home in 
Vietnam with his family, but in very poor health.
  Well, what crimes did he commit to have spent the last two decades in 
prison? After the communist takeover, Mr. Huu was arrested and charged 
with plotting to overthrow the People's Government and for 
participating in a political party that was affiliated with his church. 
Despite his 78 years of age, he was forced to do hard labor eight hours 
a day.
  By adopting these prisoners, Members of Congress can generate 
constant pressure on the Vietnamese authorities to release those who 
really have been detained for no reason, just because they choose to 
speak up against this government or just because they want to practice 
their religion.
  This is an important date for all American-Vietnamese citizens, and 
it represents another major step in the fight to provide liberty to all 
political prisoners around the world. I urge my colleagues to join us 
in this effort.

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