[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 125 (Thursday, September 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS IN CON DAU

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                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 16, 2010

  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
once again raise the issue of human rights. In January 2010, the 
Government of Vietnam sent police and government officials into a 
village to force parishioners and families to sign an agreement to sell 
their land. In April 2010, a 73-year-old parishioner named Le Van Sinh 
was hit with tear gas and fell unconscious. In May 2010, parishioner 
Mrs. Dang Thi Tan passed away and was met with extreme violence and 300 
armed police officers and special anti-riot troops while her friends 
and family tried to bury her in the Con Dau cemetery. During the 
ceremony, the police attempted to seize the casket. The diocese of Da 
Nang also reported that Mr. Nam Nguyen, a parishioner of Con Dau was 
arrested, threatened and beaten to death.
  Are these the actions of a country that respects human rights? The 
same country that committed these horrendous violations was taken off 
the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list because the Department of 
State felt they had progressed in respecting religious freedom. The 
same country that detained these individuals for peacefully exercising 
their freedom of speech is a non-permanent member of the United Nations 
Security Council.
  How can we identify Vietnam as an international partner when it is 
unable to respect and recognize the basic fundamental ideas of 
democracy and freedom? Vietnam must be put back on the CPC list and 
challenged by the U.S. government to improve and promote human rights 
in order to further United States-Vietnam relations.
  I urge the Department of State to seriously address the human rights 
violations occurring in Con Dao. I also urge my colleagues to support 
the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Vietnam to 
investigate the ongoing human rights violations happening in Con Dau by 
becoming a cosponsor of House Resolution 1572.

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