[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H1524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE RELEASE OF FATHER LY

  (Mr. CAO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the State Department for 
finally securing the release of Father Nguyen van Ly. I have advocated 
and pushed hard for Father Ly's release in the past year, and I'm glad 
that my hard work has come to fruition.
  Father Ly is one of the many Vietnamese citizens who have been 
harassed for religious and democracy advocacy. He was placed on trial 
without defense and was imprisoned for almost 17 years for promoting 
human rights and religious freedom. As a Roman Catholic priest and 
prominent Vietnamese dissident, Father Ly has become a powerful icon in 
the ongoing fight for democracy in Vietnam. He is a hero for many 
Vietnamese worldwide.
  While the release of Father Ly is a good start, we still have a long 
way to go. We as a country must uphold our values and must continue to 
challenge countries like Vietnam and China on their human rights and 
religious freedom violations. One day, maybe, my dream then will come 
true: A free and democratic Vietnam.

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