[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H2752-H2755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS 
                                  DAY

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to resolution (H. Res. 613)

[[Page H2753]]

recognizing and honoring the tenth anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights 
Day.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 613

       Whereas May 11, 2004, is the 14th anniversary of the 
     issuance of the Manifesto of the Non-Violent Movement for 
     Human Rights in Vietnam and the tenth anniversary of Vietnam 
     Human Rights Day, as designated on May 11, 1994, by Public 
     Law 103-258;
       Whereas Vietnam Human Rights Day recognizes the important 
     contributions of the author of the Manifesto, Dr. Nguyen Dan 
     Que, and uncounted numbers of innocent Vietnamese, including 
     religious leaders and ethnic minorities who have been 
     tortured, imprisoned, or held under house arrest by the 
     Socialist Republic of Vietnam because of their nonviolent 
     struggle for freedom and human rights;
       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 leaders of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 
     are expanding diplomatic and trade relations with the rest of 
     the world; and
       Whereas the United States, as leader of the free world, has 
     a special responsibility to safeguard freedom and promote the 
     protection of human rights throughout the world: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors and recognizes the 10th anniversary of Vietnam 
     Human Rights Day;
       (2) supports the designation of a ``Vietnam Human Rights 
     Day''; and
       (3) urges all Americans to share in this commemoration so 
     as to have a greater appreciation of the role Vietnam Human 
     Rights Day has played in helping to defend and further the 
     liberties and freedom of all Vietnamese people.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 613, the 
resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, the Congress designated May 11, 1994, as 
Vietnam Human Rights Day through a joint resolution that became Public 
Law 103-258. The resolution was introduced in response to the issuance 
of the Manifesto of the Nonviolent Movement For Human Rights in 
Vietnam. That manifesto, written by the great human rights leader Dr. 
Nguyen Dan Que, intended to push pressure on the Socialist regime in 
Hanoi to respect the human rights of all Vietnamese citizens.
  This is the tenth anniversary of the Vietnam Human Rights Day, which 
is the focus of House Resolution 622, before us today. The 
distinguished chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), brought forth this important 
resolution, and I commend him for introducing this important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, while progress has been made in the fight for a free and 
democratic Vietnam, the regime there continues to imprison, to attack, 
torture, kill, and otherwise persecute many of those who publicly 
express their views. This resolution aims to generate valuable 
awareness to Hanoi's uncivilized treatment of political dissidents, and 
I am pleased the House is considering it this afternoon.
  Mr. Speaker, it is easy to take for granted our Nation's priceless 
freedoms of speech and expression and, conversely, to lose track of the 
reality that countless people around the world in fact pay a great 
price to express their view. On its tenth anniversary, the principles 
of Vietnam Human Rights Day continue to act as an important defense of 
the liberties and freedoms of the Vietnamese people.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 613 and commend the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), chairman of the Committee on 
Government Reform, for his introduction of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, as an American, I take great pride when I see that 
nations value human rights. It brings me a great deal of joy to stand 
before you on the anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights Day and to honor 
the nation of Vietnam for its commitment to human rights. Ten years 
ago, in Hanoi, a brilliant man by the name of Dr. Nguyen Dan Que wrote 
a manifesto that called upon the people of Vietnam to respect human 
rights, to accept a multiparty system, and to restore the right of the 
Vietnamese people to choose their own form of government through free 
and fair elections.
  Today we honor that manifesto, as well as the many innocent people 
who were tortured, imprisoned, or held captive against their will for 
their peaceful protests against oppression by the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam.
  Those of us in the United States were reminded last week that we are 
not perfect. In fact, we are far from it. Because we are imperfect, it 
is important that we recognize the struggles other nations have 
undertaken in the pursuit of freedom so that we may never forget what a 
special privilege freedom is.
  I stand before my colleagues today as a Member of this honorable body 
to honor and to recognize the tenth anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights 
Day and to urge all Americans to share in this commemoration so that we 
may all have a greater appreciation of the role that Vietnam Human 
Rights Day has played in helping to shape, defend, and to further the 
liberties and freedom of all Vietnamese people.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time 
as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the 
distinguished chairman of the Committee on Government Reform.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding me this time, and I rise today to support H. Res. 613, 
recognizing and honoring the tenth anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights 
Day.
  Vietnam Human Rights Day serves as an important commemoration of the 
extensive struggle the Vietnamese people have endured for many years in 
their ongoing fight for basic human rights and freedom.

                              {time}  1545

  Ten years ago, the United States ended its trade embargo with Vietnam 
and normalized relations with Hanoi. While the U.S. continues to open 
diplomatic relations with Vietnam, we must remember that many issues 
remain unresolved, including human rights violations, lack of religious 
freedom, and government corruption.
  I traveled to Vietnam in 1998 to learn about these issues firsthand, 
as well as to raise these concerns with high-level officials. In 
addition, the large Vietnamese-American community in the 11th district, 
which I represent, continues to update me on continuing concerns.
  As a member of the Vietnam Caucus, I am dedicated to promoting 
awareness and public policy debates among the U.S. Congress, the 
American public, and the international community about the greater need 
for fundamental human rights in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
  House Resolution 613 recognizes the important contributions made by 
Nguyen Dan Que, the author of the Manifesto of the Non-Violent Movement 
for Human Rights, and uncounted numbers of innocent Vietnamese for 
their nonviolent struggles for freedom and human rights.
  Dr. Que is one of the most vocal advocates for freedom, democracy, 
and human rights in Vietnam. Since 1975, Dr. Que has refused to leave 
Vietnam, and he has turned down an offer to resettle in the United 
States or to live in exile. He has consciously chosen to stay in 
Vietnam to speak out and defend human dignity and the rights of all 
Vietnamese people. He is a profile of courage.
  The Vietnamese Communist government has arrested Dr. Que three times 
for his unrelenting pursuit of human

[[Page H2754]]

dignity and freedom. He has been imprisoned off and on for nearly 20 
years, beginning in 1978 through the present. During Dr. Que's 
captivity, he was imprisoned without trial, tortured, beaten, and put 
into solitary confinement in chains, accused of trying to overthrow the 
government, charged with espionage, and is now being held in strict 
incommunicado.
  Undaunted, during his time he remained the strongest voice inside 
Vietnam for equality and dignity. On May 11, 1990, Dr. Que founded the 
Nonviolent Movement For Human Rights, issuing a manifesto that appealed 
to individuals and groups inside Vietnam and throughout the world for 
support of his moderate, nonviolent struggle to establish human rights 
for all Vietnamese people.
  The arrests of Dr. Que, along with many others, demonstrate the 
ongoing human rights abuses and lack of religious freedom in Vietnam. 
We must continue to bring attention to these issues, generate pressure 
on Vietnamese officials, and hold the Vietnamese Government 
accountable.
  It is only through the hard work and effort of individuals such as 
Dr. Que and the support of the international community that we can 
bring an end to human rights abuses and religious persecution in 
Vietnam. My resolution urges all Americans to share in the 
commemoration of Vietnam Human Rights Day and to have a greater 
appreciation of the role it has played in helping to defend and further 
the liberties and freedom of all Vietnamese people.
  I am hopeful H. Res. 613 will serve as a small stepping stone towards 
the ultimate liberation and freedom of the Vietnamese people. However, 
at the least, I believe it will bring much needed additional awareness 
to the atrocities committed by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam every 
day on its own citizens. I urge my colleagues to join me in the passage 
of this important resolution.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez).
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman 
for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 613, the 
resolution which recognizes the 10th anniversary of Vietnam Human 
Rights Day, which is today, May 11. I thank the gentleman from Virginia 
(Mr. Tom Davis) for sponsoring this resolution and allowing me to be an 
original cosponsor; and I am proud to share with the gentleman 
membership in the Vietnam Caucus, along with the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Lofgren) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith). 
The initiatives of the caucus, including this bill, are examples of 
what we can accomplish when we decide to work together in a bipartisan 
manner.
  Mr. Speaker, I represent the largest Vietnamese community in the 
world outside of Vietnam in Orange County, California. It is fitting 
then to speak on the House floor about this anniversary of Vietnam 
Human Rights Day. More importantly, it is the 14-year anniversary of 
the Manifesto of the Nonviolent Movement For Human Rights. This was 
written by a courageous and bright man, Dr. Nguyen Dan Que. I have had 
the pleasure of meeting Dr. Que. In fact, I went to his home in 1998 
when I was in Vietnam. As we were meeting, his home all locked up, the 
military police came to the home to try to get me out of there. Of 
course we had locked up the house, and we continued our conversation.
  One of the things that Dr. Que said to me was that it was important 
for America and Americans to continue to push for human rights in 
Vietnam. What type of human rights are we talking about here? Well, the 
right to assemble as we do here today, that is not allowed in Vietnam. 
The right to choose your own God and the way you want to worship that 
God, that is not allowed. You have to only do it through the official 
church or churches that the state of Vietnam approves. The right to 
free press. Every piece of paper written to be distributed must be done 
by the state in Vietnam. In fact, when I was meeting with the cardinal 
of the Catholic Church of Vietnam, he said one of the things that he 
cannot do is to hand out a newsletter to people that come to church on 
Sunday. The right to collectively bargain one's labor for decent wages 
and a decent place to work.
  All of these things are not allowed in Vietnam, and this is what Dr. 
Que speaks to. He speaks to the human rights issues within Vietnam. I 
guess the most important thing that Dr. Que said to me that day in 1998 
was that the reason we need to keep pushing for human rights in Vietnam 
is that it inspires and it gives hope and it gives courage to those 
within Vietnam who are fighting for basic human rights. Religious 
leaders like the Venerable Tic Kwzug Doh; a geologist like Gizug; and 
General Do, whom I had an opportunity to meet with, who had been a 
former communist and understood what was going on in the country and 
decided he would speak out; and, yes, Dr. Que.
  Mr. Speaker, these are just a few of the dissidents within Vietnam 
who speak every day; and yet each and every one has been imprisoned, 
either taken away without charges or with false charges, or imprisoned 
in house arrest.
  I hope today we will vote this unanimously to send a strong message 
that human rights are important in every country, and in particular for 
those who have not seen them for a long time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I just also note that yesterday 
was my father's 93rd birthday, and I take this opportunity to wish him 
a happy 93rd birthday, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today 
to recognize, House Resolution 613, recognizing and honoring the tenth 
anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights Day. H. Res. 613 observes the 
fourteenth anniversary of the issuance Manifesto of the Non-Violent 
movement for Human Rights.
  Vietnam Human Rights Day serves as an important commemoration of the 
extensive struggle that Vietnamese have endured for many years, in 
their ongoing fight for basic human rights.
  H. Res. 613 recognizes the important contributions made by Dr. Nguyen 
Dan Que, the author of the Manifesto, and uncounted numbers of innocent 
Vietnamese, including religious leaders and ethnic minorities who have 
been tortured, imprisoned, or held under house arrest by the Socialist 
Republic of Vietnam because of their nonviolent struggle for freedom 
and human rights.
  This measure urges all Americans to share in this commemoration so as 
to have a greater appreciation of the role Vietnam Human Rights Day has 
played in helping to defend and further the liberties and freedom of 
all Vietnamese people.
  These arrests demonstrate the increasing human rights abuses and lack 
of religious freedom and free speech in Vietnam. As we consider our 
ongoing economic relations with Vietnam, our goal in Congress must be 
to continue to bring attention to these issues, generate pressure on 
Vietnamese officials, and hold the Vietnamese government accountable.
  We all realize that U.S. economic relations with Vietnam have 
improved in recent years. In 1994, the United States lifted its trade 
embargo with Vietnam and normalized relations with Hanoi. However, I 
will continue to fight for better human rights for all Vietnamese 
people and the right for families from Vietnam to reunite with their 
families in America.
  H. Res. 613 indicates how far Vietnam has come in its struggle for 
human rights. This is an anniversary that deserves to truly be 
celebrated.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, during the month of May, we celebrate Asian 
Pacific American Heritage to commemorate the contributions Asian 
Pacific Americans have made to the fabric of our communities and to 
this nation as a whole. I could easily spend this month, and longer, 
describing the tremendous accomplishments of Asian Pacific Americans.
  However, today is the tenth anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights Day 
and we sadly must recognize that Vietnam has not come far enough in 
respecting the human rights of its citizens.
  Just one month ago, on Easter Week, Human Rights Watch reported that 
peaceful protests by indigenous minority Christian Montagnards turned 
violent when police used tear gas, electric truncheons, and water 
cannons on protestors. Reports indicate that police arrested several 
individuals, many whose whereabouts are currently unknown. Worse yet 
are reports of torture, police beatings, and deaths associated with 
this crackdown on the Montagnards.
  Today, my colleagues, Congressman Chris Smith, Tom Davis, Loretta 
Sanchez and I

[[Page H2755]]

are introducing a Congressional resolution recognizing the countless 
number of innocent Vietnamese ``who have been tortured, imprisoned, or 
held under house arrest by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.''
  Also today, Congressman Smith is leading an effort, with over 100 
cosponsors, to pass House Concurrent Resolution 378 to call on Vietnam 
to immediately release Father Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly and condemn the 
``violations of freedom of speech, religion, movement, association, and 
the lack of due process afforded to individuals in Vietnam.''
  Ten years ago, the Congress and the Senate passed a resolution 
designating today, May 11th, as Vietnam Human Rights Day, recognizing 
that ``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.''
  Unfortunately, President Bush and his Administration have not heeded 
that responsibility to safeguard human rights. Although this 
Administration tells me they are ``deeply troubled by the restrictions 
that the government of Vietnam places on its citizens' freedom of 
expression, as well as other human rights,'' this Administration has 
been initiating a new friendly relationship with the communist regime 
in Vietnam without demanding protection of human rights as a condition 
of our friendship.
  The Bush Administration's hypocrisy and apathetic attitude towards 
human rights is unacceptable. As long as the people of Vietnam are 
oppressed, abused, and imprisoned, our President should first demand 
protection of human rights before getting friendly with a communist 
regime that oppresses its people.
  On this 10th Anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights Day, I urge our 
President to condemn the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for violating 
human rights and I call on the Vietnamese government to protect the 
human rights of its citizens.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Putnam). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller of Michigan) that 
the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 613.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________