[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 86 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     STATEMENT CONCERNING THE FUTURE OF U.S. RELATIONS WITH VIETNAM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 24, 2005

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, some prominent members of the 
Vietnamese community within my Congressional District have asked that I 
deliver a message to Congress regarding human rights issues in Vietnam. 
I take this opportunity to express their sentiments on the heels of 
Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's visit to the United States. I 
am convinced that while this is a historic and unprecedented visit, I 
believe that their concerns are equally important.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that this statement be made a part of the official 
Record.
  Vietnam is a nation that has a record of violating human rights and 
suppressing religious freedom. This has been recorded in the U.S. State 
Department's 2004 Human Rights report on Vietnam. The report declares 
that the governing party, the Communist Party of Vietnam, has 
restricted the freedom of speech, the freedom of press, and the freedom 
of assembly, freedoms that our nation holds so dear. The Vietnamese 
government also continues to hold political and religious prisoners. It 
prohibits human rights organizations and political, labor, and social 
organizations from forming or operating. The 2004 U.S. State Department 
report also found that government security forces have been known to 
beat, shoot, and even bear responsibility for the disappearance of its 
citizens. These are not the government activities of a free nation.
  The United States must not ignore the oppressive practices of 
governments with which we build economic and military ties, for our 
relationships with other nations reflect our own national values and 
beliefs. While it is my sincere hope that relations between the United 
States and Vietnam will become stronger in the future, we must remember 
that our Nation prides itself upon protecting democracy and supporting 
human rights all over the world.
  Although Vietnam has made steps toward progress, we have seen that it 
still partakes in practices meant to oppress its citizens. Therefore, 
it is my expectation that the United States will work with Vietnam to 
improve its grave human rights and religious freedom records so that we 
may continue to take steps to strengthen and broaden our ties with that 
country.

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