[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 140 (Thursday, October 1, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H10413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN 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. I rise today to call attention to 
the human rights situation in Vietnam, particularly because today 
Vietnam will be taking over the Presidency of the United Nations 
Security Council. I find this development shocking and appalling and 
unacceptable, especially when we look at Vietnam's human rights record.
  Just this past Sunday, the police in Vietnam assaulted over 130 monks 
and removed them from the Bat Nha Monastery before destroying it. 
Recently, eight dissidents where imprisoned by the Vietnamese 
Government for practicing their rights to freedom of speech and 
expression.
  Today, Secretary of State Clinton is planning to meet with the 
Foreign Minister of Vietnam. I would urge Secretary Clinton to address 
these ongoing human rights violations in Vietnam and to strongly urge 
the Government of Vietnam to uphold their promises to respect the 
rights of their citizens.
  The United States must recommit itself to making human rights a 
diplomatic priority.

                          ____________________