Plainclothes agents violently detained Ho Chi Minh City-based environmentalist during peaceful demonstration in the city on May 8, 2016 (Photo taken from social network)
Twenty U.S. Congress members have sent their joint letter to U.S. President Barack Obama to take specific measures to demand Vietnam’s communist government to end its ongoing suppression against political dissidents, social activists and human rights defenders.
by Vu Quoc Ngu, May 18, 2016
Twenty U.S. Congress members have sent their joint letter to U.S. President Barack Obama to take specific measures to demand Vietnam’s communist government to end its ongoing suppression against political dissidents, social activists and human rights defenders.
The joint letter signed by Loretta Sanchez, Zoe Lofgren, Alan S. Lowenthal, Mark DeSaulnier, Christopher H. Smith, Susan A. David, Judy Chu and Keith Ellison and other 12 U.S. legislators, was sent to President Obama on May 17, five days ahead of his official visit to the Southeast Asian nation.
The twenty U.S. Congress members said they hope President Obama will engage directly with Vietnamese people and send a clear message that America stands with the Vietnamese who yearn for freedom during his visit to Vietnam which aims to define the future of the U.S.-Vietnam relations.
The U.S. legislators said they are deeply troubled by the recent wave of political trial in Vietnam, the continued harassment and imprisonment of peaceful political activists, and the stepped up efforts by the Vietnamese government to restrict information.
They recalled that several months ahead of Obama’s visit, Vietnam detained prominent human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai and convicted six activists for so-called “propaganda against the state.” Security police have also routinely harassed and beaten activists as a way to silence dissent.
Hanoi continues to place restriction on the right of Vietnamese to receive and impart information, the Congress members said. The recent Vietnamese Law on Information seems to be an Orwellian attempt to restrict access to information, they noted, adding Reporters Without Borders recently placed Vietnam at the 175th out of 180 countries in press freedom.
The American lawmakers urged President Obama to convey their serious concerns about the ongoing arbitrary detentions of human rights activists and repression of freedom of expression in Vietnam. Giving a list of over 100 prisoners of conscience, they urged him to advocate not only for their release, but for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience with priority for Catholic priest Nguyen Van Ly, Nguyen Dang Minh Man, Ho Duc Hoa, Dang Xuan Dieu and Tran Huynh Duy Thuc.
They urged President Obama to meet directly with Vietnamese human rights defenders and families of imprisoned activists to send a strong signal about the U.S. commitment to championing liberty.
Regarding U.S.’s consideration to remove its ban of lethal weapon sale imposed over Vietnam, the lawmakers said Vietnam must demonstrate a serious commitment to improving its human rights record before the administration of Obama considers such a move.
The signed legislators also urge Obama to publicly articulate that Vietnam must be grounded on democratic principles and respect human rights to become a true comprehensive partner of the U.S.
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May 18, 2016
Twenty U.S. Congress Members Urge Obama to Address Vietnam’s Ongoing Suppression
by Nhan Quyen • [Human Rights]
Plainclothes agents violently detained Ho Chi Minh City-based environmentalist during peaceful demonstration in the city on May 8, 2016 (Photo taken from social network)
by Vu Quoc Ngu, May 18, 2016
Twenty U.S. Congress members have sent their joint letter to U.S. President Barack Obama to take specific measures to demand Vietnam’s communist government to end its ongoing suppression against political dissidents, social activists and human rights defenders.
The joint letter signed by Loretta Sanchez, Zoe Lofgren, Alan S. Lowenthal, Mark DeSaulnier, Christopher H. Smith, Susan A. David, Judy Chu and Keith Ellison and other 12 U.S. legislators, was sent to President Obama on May 17, five days ahead of his official visit to the Southeast Asian nation.
The twenty U.S. Congress members said they hope President Obama will engage directly with Vietnamese people and send a clear message that America stands with the Vietnamese who yearn for freedom during his visit to Vietnam which aims to define the future of the U.S.-Vietnam relations.
The U.S. legislators said they are deeply troubled by the recent wave of political trial in Vietnam, the continued harassment and imprisonment of peaceful political activists, and the stepped up efforts by the Vietnamese government to restrict information.
They recalled that several months ahead of Obama’s visit, Vietnam detained prominent human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai and convicted six activists for so-called “propaganda against the state.” Security police have also routinely harassed and beaten activists as a way to silence dissent.
Hanoi continues to place restriction on the right of Vietnamese to receive and impart information, the Congress members said. The recent Vietnamese Law on Information seems to be an Orwellian attempt to restrict access to information, they noted, adding Reporters Without Borders recently placed Vietnam at the 175th out of 180 countries in press freedom.
The American lawmakers urged President Obama to convey their serious concerns about the ongoing arbitrary detentions of human rights activists and repression of freedom of expression in Vietnam. Giving a list of over 100 prisoners of conscience, they urged him to advocate not only for their release, but for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience with priority for Catholic priest Nguyen Van Ly, Nguyen Dang Minh Man, Ho Duc Hoa, Dang Xuan Dieu and Tran Huynh Duy Thuc.
They urged President Obama to meet directly with Vietnamese human rights defenders and families of imprisoned activists to send a strong signal about the U.S. commitment to championing liberty.
Regarding U.S.’s consideration to remove its ban of lethal weapon sale imposed over Vietnam, the lawmakers said Vietnam must demonstrate a serious commitment to improving its human rights record before the administration of Obama considers such a move.
The signed legislators also urge Obama to publicly articulate that Vietnam must be grounded on democratic principles and respect human rights to become a true comprehensive partner of the U.S.