[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H7679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ON THE VIETNAM DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in 
support of the Vietnamese people who continue to work every day for a 
free and democratic Vietnam.
  In April, 118 Vietnamese citizens signed the Manifesto on Democracy 
and Freedom for Vietnam. Making this public statement put these 
Vietnamese citizens and their families at great risk. The signers of 
the manifesto are part of a movement called the 8406 Democracy 
Movement, which refers to the date on which they signed the manifesto, 
the 8th of April of 2006.
  On June 10, I personally spoke with the leaders of the 8406 Democracy 
Movement, Father Ly and Do Nam Hai, and it is clear to me from my 
conversations with them that the government of Vietnam continues to 
violate religious, property and labor rights as well as the right to a 
free and independent media. These violations are unacceptable.
  I urge President Bush to convey the following message to the 
government of Vietnam during his travel there in November for the Asia-
Pacific Economic Corporation Conference.
  The U.S. supports the people of the 8406 Democracy Movement who are 
working toward a free and democratic Vietnam and strongly objects to 
any mistreatment of them.

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