[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 8, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E986-E987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CALLING ON VIETNAM TO IMMEDIATELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY RELEASE POLITICAL 
                 PRISONERS AND PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 1, 2007

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, April 30, 2007, Vietnamese 
Americans across the nation observed the 32nd anniversary of the fall 
of Saigon to North Vietnam, marking the end of the Vietnam war. There 
are now more than 1.12 million Vietnamese Americans living in the 
United States. They overcame many hardships to rebuild their lives, 
created thriving communities, contributed to the diversity and well-
being of our country and worked towards their American dreams.
  They have not forgotten that their former compatriots, family 
members, and friends in Vietnam are still being denied the basic 
freedoms that America has fought so hard for. Vietnamese Americans of 
different generations are actively working with their counterparts in 
Vietnam to create a more open, democratic society that is free of 
oppression and religious persecution.
  The United States, in good faith, granted Vietnam permanent normal 
trade relations with the assurances that Vietnam was and will continue 
to improve its human rights records. Vietnam expressed its desire to 
create stronger, bilateral relations with the United States. However, 
despite these assurances, Vietnam has significantly increased the level 
of its detention, harassment, and oppression of political activists in 
the past several months since its accession into the World Trade 
Organization. They have blatantly disregarded their own claims that 
they will be actively engaged in promoting and protecting human rights 
with the United Nations Human Rights Council.
  On May 2, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House 
Resolution 243, calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam to immediately and unconditionally release Father Nguyen Van 
Ly, Nguyen Van Dai, Le Thi Cong Nhan, and other political prisoners and 
prisoners of conscience. The resolution further urges the Government of 
Vietnam to comply with internationally recognized standards for basic 
freedom

[[Page E987]]

and human rights and adhere to the rule of law.
  In voting in favor of House Resolution 243, my thoughts were with 
Father Nguyen Van Ly, a well-known peaceful political dissident, who 
was shown in an alarming video being physically silenced by Vietnamese 
guards at his anti-propaganda trial. The literal image of free speech 
being smothered has been broadcasted to the world and the United States 
cannot stand quietly by. The list of those dissidents being harassed, 
threatened, and detained continues to grow as Vietnam attempts to quiet 
political dissidents prior to their general elections this May.
  I urge the Department of State to adopt the re-designation of Vietnam 
as a Country of Particular Concern for its continued oppression of 
religious freedom, as recommended by the United States Commission on 
International Religious Freedom. It is my hope that the Vietnamese 
government will consider how their actions are viewed by the world, and 
that they immediately cease their detention and harassment of peaceful, 
democratic activists.

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