[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 57 (Thursday, April 10, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H2167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM SHOULD END IMPRISONMENT, DETENTION AND 
HARASSMENT OF SIGNERS OF MANIFESTO ON FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY FOR VIETNAM

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of House Resolution 1089, which I introduced on Tuesday, 
calling for an end to the Vietnamese Government's imprisonment, 
detention and harassment of those who signed the Manifesto on Freedom 
and Democracy For Vietnam.
  On April 8, 2006, 118 Vietnamese citizens signed a manifesto in 
support of peaceful action to bring democracy and basic human rights to 
the Vietnamese people. Thousands of Vietnamese people have since signed 
this document, refusing to be silent while their government continues 
to violate their human rights. In retaliation, the Government of 
Vietnam has jailed, detained and harassed those brave people.
  I introduced this important resolution to mark the 2-year anniversary 
of the original signing of the manifesto and to highlight the ongoing 
human rights atrocities in Vietnam.
  Not only does my resolution call on the Government of Vietnam to 
release peaceful advocates, but it also asks our State Department to 
establish a list of Countries of Particular Concern based on human 
rights violations, which would hold nations like Vietnam accountable.

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