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Religious Freedom in Viet Nam

Rev. Peter Nguyen Huu Giai and Rev. Peter Phan Van Loi
To the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)

27-10-2007
In Viet Nam nowadays, basic human and civil rights are listed sufficiently in the Constitution. But they are almost defined vaguely or inadequately, restricted or rescinded by statutes, edicts, decrees and resolutions. In other words, they don't exist in real life for the real citizens.

1- In theory

In religious matters, you can see now in Viet Nam, many places of worship have been built, many ceremonies organized, many representatives of the religious supreme authority going inside or abroad to study or participate in conferences, many religious institutes opened. All these, naturally are with the permission and under the control of the government. But according to our opinion, religious freedom doesn’t consist in building churches or pagodas, in organising religious festivities, in welcoming religious dignitaries, in going abroad, even in opening the seminaries (such as propagandized by the Vietnamese Communist regime). All these liberties are external and secondary.

Smith Blasts Vietnam Government for Failure to Release Pro-Democracy Activists

Calls for Immediate Release of Political Prisoners and Passage of Smith-authored Vietnam Human Rights Act into Law

Washington, Nov 27 -

“Today’s decision by Vietnam’s Supreme Appeals Court to uphold bogus jail sentences for pro-democracy advocates Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan marks another in a series of sham trials and is further evidence that the regime in Hanoi continues to carry-out human rights abuses with impunity,” said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) a leading human rights lawmaker in the U.S. Congress.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

Testimony of Father Phan Van Loi

Hue, Vietnam
(translated and submitted by Committee for Religious Freedom in Vietnam)

Human Rights Concerns in Vietnam

November 6, 2007
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight

The Vietnamese Religious Scene in 2007

Washington to press Vietnam to free jailed dissidents

Fri Sep 21, 10:21 AM ET

HANOI (AFP) - The United States will continue to put pressure on Vietnam to release political dissidents convicted for spreading propaganda against the communist regime, the new US ambassador to Hanoi said Friday.

EDITORIAL OBSERVER: The shame of the Vietnamese left behind

By Serge Schmemann
Published: September 7, 2007

This time, the United States cannot abandon those who helped.

I was stationed at the U.S. Army base at Phu Loi in Vietnam when the withdrawal of American troops got under way, and I often used to wonder what would happen after we left to the Vietnamese women who did our laundry and tended to our "hootches," or barracks.

Press Release: Rep. Lofgren Deeply Concerned Over Treatment of Peaceful Protestors in Vietnam

Rep. Lofgren Sends Letter to Vietnamese President
July 24, 2007

Washington, D.C. – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) today sent a letter to Vietnamese President Triet, expressing her “serious disappointment regarding the treatment of the peaceful protesters in Ho Chi Minh City on July 18, 2007.” The letter, which calls on the Vietnamese President to personally explain the brutal crackdown on peaceful human rights activists, was also forwarded to Secretary of State Rice. The letter also states that Vietnam is failing to meet the human rights standards that the Unites States expects from its trading partners and that it must make a strong commitment to the promotion of human rights.

The complete text of the letter is below:

President Bush Attends Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention, Discusses War on Terror

Kansas City Convention and Entertainment Center
Kansas City, Missouri

9:46 A.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Please be seated. It's good to be with you again. I understand you haven't had much of a problem attracting speakers. (Laughter.) I thank you for inviting me. I can understand why people want to come here. See, it's an honor to stand with the men and women of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. (Applause.) The VFW is one of this nation's finest organizations. You belong to an elite group of Americans. (Applause.) You belong to a group of people who have defended America overseas. You have fought in places from Normandy to Iwo Jima, to Pusan, to Khe Sahn, to Kuwait, to Somalia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. You brought security to the American people; you brought hope to millions across the world.

Foreign Affairs Committee Approves Smith Bill Promoting Human Rights Reform in Vietnam

Bill gives authority for sanctions if abuses continue

WASHINGTON-The House Foreign Affairs Committee today approved legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to promote human rights reform in Vietnam and hold the Vietnamese Government accountable for further human rights abuses.

Vietnamese police break up land protest after 27 days

Posted : Thu, 19 Jul 2007 05:49:10 GMT
Author : DPA

Hanoi - Vietnamese police in riot gear broke up a demonstration of hundreds of people in Ho Chi Minh City who were demanding compensation for their seized land, witnesses said Thursday. After tolerating the long-running protest for 27 days, armed police moved in late Wednesday night to the tented camp outside the National Assembly offices, forcing the protesters onto buses bound for their home provinces. One of the protesters said the dispersing was peaceful.

European Parliament resolution of 12 July 2007 on human rights in Vietnam

President Bush Attends Dedication of Victims of Communism Memorial Washington, D.C.

10:35 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Please be seated. Dr. Edwards, thanks for your kind words. Congressman Lantos -- no better friend to freedom, by the way; Congressman Rohrabacher, the same. Members of the Czech and Hungarian parliaments; ambassadors; distinguished guests; and more importantly, the survivors of Communist oppression, I'm honored to join you on this historic day. (Applause.)
And here in the company of men and women who resisted evil and helped bring down an empire, I proudly accept the Victims of Communism Memorial on behalf of the American people. (Applause.)

President Bush Visits Prague, Czech Republic, Discusses Freedom Large Hall Czernin Palace Prague, Czech Republic

4:07 P.M. (Local)

THE PRESIDENT: President Ilves, Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg, distinguished guests: Laura and I are pleased to be back in Prague, and we appreciate the gracious welcome in this historic hall. Tomorrow I attend the G-8 Summit, where I will meet with the leaders of the world's most powerful economies. This afternoon, I stand with men and women who represent an even greater power -- the power of human conscience.

Vietnamese court sentences dissidents

By BEN STOCKING, Associated Press Writer

25 minutes ago

HANOI, Vietnam - A court sentenced two human rights lawyers Friday, bringing to five the number of activists convicted this week in Vietnam's latest crackdown on dissent.

Nguyen Van Dai was sentenced to five years and Le Thi Cong Nhan to four years for advocating a multiparty state in Vietnam, where the ruling communist party does not tolerate challenges to its rule.

Memo to Hanoi by Reps. Chris Smith, Bart Stupak and Frank Wolf - Wall Stree Journal Asia

A Catholic priest who has already spent over 13 years in prison is rearrested and sentenced to eight more years for serving as an advisor to a democracy movement and a new political party. A woman, whose husband had recently been released from jail after serving time for spreading pro-democracy material, is hit by a car -- believed to be driven and occupied by plainclothes police officers -- in an effort to intimidate her and prevent her from meeting with the U.S. Ambassador. A lawyer who travels to the U.S. to serve as a Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy is arrested within a week of his return home, and charged with engaging in activities aimed at overthrowing the government.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: Viet Nam: Silenced critics must be released

Public Statement

AI Index: ASA 41/004/2007 (Public)
News Service No: 081
24 April 2007

Viet Nam: Silenced critics must be released
Vietnamese lawyers, trade unionists, religious leaders and Internet dissidents have been detained or imprisoned in increasing numbers in recent months. Amnesty International is deeply concerned over an ongoing crackdown by the Vietnamese government against people who have done nothing but peacefully express their opinions.

Press Release: U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Marine’s op-ed on Vietnam Human Rights

Dissident Catholic priest sentenced to 8 years in Vietnam

By Ben Stocking
ASSOCIATED PRESS
5:02 a.m. March 30, 2007


HUE, Vietnam – A Vietnamese court sentenced a dissident Catholic priest to eight years in prison for anti-government activities after a dramatic trial Friday in which the defendant shouted denunciations of the ruling Communist Party.
A judge at Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Court in central Vietnam sentenced Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly on charges of disseminating anti-government documents and communicating with pro-democracy activists overseas. It was the first time the government has opened a high-profile dissident's trial to reporters.

Wolf demands firing of U.S. ambassador

March 27, 2007, 5:04PM

By BARRY SCHWEID AP Diplomatic Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - A senior House Republican demanded the firing of the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam on Tuesday, complaining the diplomat had not adequately opposed the prosecution of a dissident Catholic priest.

"Why aren't our ambassadors speaking out?" Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., asked at a House appropriations subcommittee hearing that focused on human rights abuses.

"I think the ambassador ought to be fired," Wolf said.

The State Department disputed Wolf's criticism of Ambassador Michael Marine and of U.S. ambassadors generally as being in retreat from championing human rights causes.

"Certainly, we all want to see more progress made," said Tom Casey, deputy spokesman at the State Department.

The Norwegian human rights advocate Ms Kieu Tran interrogated last night

Last night the Norwegian human rights advocate Ms Kieu Tran was brought in for questioning by the Vietnamese authorities. Tran acted as an interpreter on Thursday this week when Ms Therese Jebsen, representative of the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights in Bergen, Norway, visited last year’s Rafto Human Rights Prize laureate, venerable Thich Quang Do, together with Mr Tom Rune Orset, a journalist from the Norwegian TV2.
PRESS RELEASE

17 March, 2007
The Norwegian human rights advocate Ms Kieu Tran
interrogated last night

Last night the Norwegian human rights advocate Ms Kieu Tran was brought in for questioning by the Vietnamese authorities. Tran acted as an interpreter on Thursday this week when Ms Therese Jebsen, representative of the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights in Bergen, Norway, visited last year’s Rafto Human Rights Prize laureate, venerable Thich Quang Do, together with Mr Tom Rune Orset, a journalist from the Norwegian TV2.