WOLF REMARKS AT VIETNAMESE AMERICAN MEETUP
Washington, D.C. (June 4, 2013) – Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), co-chairman of the Congressional Vietnam Caucus and a leader on the issue of human rights and international religious freedom, today participated in the first-ever House Republican Conference Vietnamese American Meetup in the Capitol where he spoke of his longtime focus on ending human rights abuses in Vietnam, as well as his support of the Vietnamese community in Virginia’s 10th District.
Wolf criticized the Obama Administration for failing to prioritize human rights and religious freedom around the world and called on the Vietnamese community to press the U.S. government to act on this issue.
The full text of Wolf’s remarks is below.
“I’m pleased to join other Members of Congress in welcoming you to the first House Republican Conference Vietnamese American Meet-Up.
“My state, Virginia, has a vibrant Vietnamese-American community that is actively involved in every facet of local, state and national life and I am glad to see a lot of familiar faces among the crowd gathered today.
“I have long been focused on the deplorable human rights situation in Vietnam. Just weeks ago, I joined with another group of Vietnamese-Americans from the around the country to mark Vietnam Human Rights Day.
“The brutal reality is that human rights are regularly violated in Vietnam—Vietnamese government officials continue to systematically suppress freedom of religion, expression and association and to pursue politically motivated trials and arrests throughout the country.
“Religious institutions are required to apply for permits; but many of these applications are ignored or denied leaving congregations without the protection of the law and vulnerable to abuse.
“Independent writers, bloggers and rights activists who question government policies, expose corruption, or call for democratic change are often met with harassment, arrest and even torture.
“Sadly the Obama administration has failed to prioritize human rights and religious freedom globally and specifically in its interactions with the Vietnamese government—preferring to steer away from thorny matters of conscience.
“This is unacceptable and not in keeping with the American tradition, best embodied by President Ronald Reagan, of boldly speaking out on behalf of those whose voices have been silenced, wherever they may be.
“President Ronald Reagan famously said that the U.S. Constitution is a “covenant that we have made not only with ourselves, but with all of mankind.” This covenant transcended time and place and it includes the people of Vietnam.
“The U.S. government has an obligation to advocate forcefully, and by name, for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience—including Vietnamese prisoners of conscience.
“The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam has an obligation to be an island of freedom in a sea of repression.
Many of you personally experienced the brutality of the communist party—or have family members that did.
“You know that no amount of diplomatic niceties can mask the fundamental differences between a government that protects the freedoms of its citizens and a government that violates those same freedoms.
“Your voice is needed now more than ever to ensure that America remains a shining city on a hill, a land of opportunity and a beacon of hope for the oppressed of the world.”
Source: http://wolf.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=34&itemid=2251
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June 5, 2013
Wolf Remarks At Vietnamese American Meetup
by Defend the Defenders • [Human Rights]
WOLF REMARKS AT VIETNAMESE AMERICAN MEETUP
Washington, D.C. (June 4, 2013) – Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), co-chairman of the Congressional Vietnam Caucus and a leader on the issue of human rights and international religious freedom, today participated in the first-ever House Republican Conference Vietnamese American Meetup in the Capitol where he spoke of his longtime focus on ending human rights abuses in Vietnam, as well as his support of the Vietnamese community in Virginia’s 10th District.
Wolf criticized the Obama Administration for failing to prioritize human rights and religious freedom around the world and called on the Vietnamese community to press the U.S. government to act on this issue.
The full text of Wolf’s remarks is below.
“I’m pleased to join other Members of Congress in welcoming you to the first House Republican Conference Vietnamese American Meet-Up.
“My state, Virginia, has a vibrant Vietnamese-American community that is actively involved in every facet of local, state and national life and I am glad to see a lot of familiar faces among the crowd gathered today.
“I have long been focused on the deplorable human rights situation in Vietnam. Just weeks ago, I joined with another group of Vietnamese-Americans from the around the country to mark Vietnam Human Rights Day.
“The brutal reality is that human rights are regularly violated in Vietnam—Vietnamese government officials continue to systematically suppress freedom of religion, expression and association and to pursue politically motivated trials and arrests throughout the country.
“Religious institutions are required to apply for permits; but many of these applications are ignored or denied leaving congregations without the protection of the law and vulnerable to abuse.
“Independent writers, bloggers and rights activists who question government policies, expose corruption, or call for democratic change are often met with harassment, arrest and even torture.
“Sadly the Obama administration has failed to prioritize human rights and religious freedom globally and specifically in its interactions with the Vietnamese government—preferring to steer away from thorny matters of conscience.
“This is unacceptable and not in keeping with the American tradition, best embodied by President Ronald Reagan, of boldly speaking out on behalf of those whose voices have been silenced, wherever they may be.
“President Ronald Reagan famously said that the U.S. Constitution is a “covenant that we have made not only with ourselves, but with all of mankind.” This covenant transcended time and place and it includes the people of Vietnam.
“The U.S. government has an obligation to advocate forcefully, and by name, for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience—including Vietnamese prisoners of conscience.
“The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam has an obligation to be an island of freedom in a sea of repression.
Many of you personally experienced the brutality of the communist party—or have family members that did.
“You know that no amount of diplomatic niceties can mask the fundamental differences between a government that protects the freedoms of its citizens and a government that violates those same freedoms.
“Your voice is needed now more than ever to ensure that America remains a shining city on a hill, a land of opportunity and a beacon of hope for the oppressed of the world.”
Source: http://wolf.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=34&itemid=2251
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