[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 13, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H47-H48]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                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. Madam Speaker, I rise today 
representing the voice of my Vietnamese American constituency to once 
again bring attention to the deteriorating human rights conditions in 
Vietnam.
  Last Wednesday, a number of Catholics were attacked by the police for 
reporting an incident where Vietnam Government officials destroyed a 
holy cross at the Dong Chiem parish. The removal of the cross was only 
one incident in a series of violent actions

[[Page H48]]

taken by the Vietnamese Government to unlawfully seize church property 
which has belonged to the parish for over 100 years.
  And I ask myself, why have we not put this country, Vietnam, on the 
list of countries of particular concern, those who prosecute and 
persecute religious beliefs? I find it absolutely appalling that the 
Vietnamese Government continues to get away with these human rights 
violations, and we should do something about it.
  In 2010 I hope that the United States will finally take a stand and 
show the world that this behavior is unacceptable. It is time for 
Vietnam to be held accountable.

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