Nhân dịp Ngục Sĩ Nguyễn Chí Thiện sang Úc công tác, hôm nay lúc 3giờ chiều thứ Bảy 22/9/2007 tại Trung Tâm Văn Hóa & Sinh Hoạt Cộng đồng tiểu bang NSW, Hậu Duệ VNCH tiểu bang NSW/Úc Châu, đã tổ chức buổi tâm tình với ngục sĩ Nguyễn Chí Thiện về các vấn đề liên quan tới Nghị- Quyết 36 của nhà cầm quyền CSVN qua hiện tượng tờ báo “Việt Weekly” tại Hoa kỳ. Bác Sĩ Nguyễn Mạnh Tiến và Luật Sư Võ trí Dũng đã lần lượt phát biểu cám ơn thi sĩ Nguyễn Chí Thiện và đồng bào tham dự. Thi sĩ Nguyễn Chí Thiện cũng cho biết, số tiền bán sách của tập thơ "Hoa Địa Ngục" kỳ này sẽ được gởi giúp dân oan và các nhà dân chủ trong nước. Buổi tâm tình kết thúc lúc 5giờ, và đồng bào đã ở lại đến phút chót. Đặc biệt cảnh mọi người chen lấn mua tập thơ "Hoa Địa Ngục" và xin chữ ký của thi sĩ Nguyễn Chí Thiện.   more »

WASHINGTON, Sep 18, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Immediately following the passage of H.R. 3096, a bill to promote freedom and democracy in Vietnam, Dr. Ngai Nguyen, a physician in San Jose, California and the Vice Secretary of the Democratic Party of Vietnam, met in Washington D.C. with key members of the United States Congress and sponsors of the legislation to thank them for their continued support of improved human rights in Vietnam. H.R. 3096 condemns the ongoing human rights abuses in Vietnam, and prohibits increased U.S. non-humanitarian assistance to the Government of Vietnam unless there is verifiable evidence that the Vietnamese Government has made substantial progress towards the release of its political and religious prisoners. In addition, this legislation requires that the Vietnam government respect the rights to freedom of religion, freedom of press and returns all confiscated properties. SOURCE: Democratic Party of Vietnam Thank you, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Ngai for this posting. Jean Libby, VietAm Review   more »

Bill Would Authorize $2 million for Human Rights Defenders in Vietnam Washington, D.C. – Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) today voted in favor of Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007, which focuses on Vietnam ’s suppression of religious liberty and the pro-democracy movement. The bill, which Rep. Lofgren co-sponsored, includes provisions to fund human rights work in Vietnam and to fund jamming override technology for Radio Free Asia. It also includes provisions to extend U.S. refugee programs to Vietnamese who would have previously been eligible but missed deadlines because of circumstances beyond their control or are suffering persecution in Vietnam . The bill includes the following provisions: o Authorizes $2 million for FY 2008 and FY 2009 for NGOs, the Human Rights Defenders Fund and individuals and organizations that promote universally recognized human rights in Vietnam o Authorizes $9.1 million for FY 2008 in and $1.1 million in FY 2009 for radio jamming override technology o Prohibits an increase in nonhumanitarian U.S. assistance to Vietnam in FY 2008 o Calls upon the Secretary of State to issue an annual report that includes an explanation of the President’s determination on nonhumanitarian foreign assistance, the status of protection of human rights, progress towards rule of law, a comprehensive victims list, progress towards securing transmission of Radio Free Asia o Establishes as U.S. policy the extension of the U.S. refugee programs to Vietnamese who would have previously been eligible but missed deadlines because of circumstances beyond their control or are suffering persecution in Vietnam The article includes a message in Vietnamese from Dr. Thang D. Nguyen, director of Boat People SOS, who included the posting from the office of Rep. Chris Smith (R - N.J.) Congressman Smith authored the bill, and took the opportunity to ask his colleagues in the U.S. Senate to do their part now and pass a similar bill "without regard to their own economic interests."   more »