Letter from Eight Vietnamese Democracy and Human Rights Organizations

July 11, 2015

The Honorable Ted Osius

US Ambassador to Vietnam

Dear Ambassador Osius:

We would like to thank you for coming to Southern California and meeting with our organizations.

We believe that the time has come for political change in Vietnam and the U.S. should stand with the activists on the ground in Vietnam and support the change process.

The following are issues that represent the common concerns of our organizations. We respectfully urge you to give them your attention and help advocate for these issues as US Ambassador to Vietnam:

1.      To exert additional pressure on the government of Vietnam to release all political prisoners.  It’s long overdue.  Attached is a list of political prisoners published by Vietnam Human Rights Network;

2.      To urge the Vietnamese authorities to stop harassment and persecution of political dissidents, for voicing their concern, in any manner (probation, barricade, mob violence, depriving livelihood, arbitrary detention) and respect their freedom of association and freedom of movement;

3.      To support free expression by advocating for independent private American media and organizations to do business in Vietnam, and encouraging the free flow of information, especially within the context of TPP, without censorship and restriction;

4.      To promote internet freedom in Vietnam by asking Vietnamese government to allow its citizens to freely access the internet, without being censored;

5.      To promote the formation of independent labor organizations, and encourage Vietnam to adopt progressive labor laws;