U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman For Immediate Release June 8, 2009 2009/564 Media Note Joint Statement U.S.-Vietnam Political, Security and Defense Dialogue Washington, D.C. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Greg Delawie and H.E. Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Standing Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, met in Washington, D.C., on June 8, 2009 to discuss bilateral and regional security issues, reflecting the increasingly close relationship between the United States and Vietnam. The talks marked the second U.S.-Vietnam Political, Security and Defense Dialogue and built upon the success of the inaugural Dialogue in Hanoi held in 2008. The 2009 U.S.-Vietnam Political, Security and Defense Dialogue confirmed the increasingly robust bilateral relationship between the United States and Vietnam based on friendship, mutual respect, candor, and shared commitments to ensure a peaceful, stable, and secure Asia-Pacific region. The United States and Vietnam affirmed that cooperation with respect to international and regional security challenges is a natural byproduct of our growing political, economic, cultural, and social ties and helps to guarantee our economic prosperity. The participants in the 2009 Political, Security and Defense Dialogue addressed multiple areas in which the two nations can further strengthen the bilateral relationship. The Dialogue also focused on peacekeeping operations and training, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime security, counterterrorism and counternarcotics cooperation, border security, nonproliferation, and exchanges of high-level visits. The participants also discussed ways to increase understanding between the two militaries. The U.S.-Vietnam Political, Security, and Defense Dialogue is a regular dialogue on security issues of mutual and regional interest, held on an annual basis, and aimed at deepening our bilateral relationship. US ambassador rejects bill on Vietnam’s human rights 22:45' 09/06/2009 (GMT+7) VietNamNet Bridge – The US has no interest in putting Vietnam back onto the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) regarding religion, Radio Free Asia (RFA) quoted the US Ambassador to Vietnam as saying. Ambassador Michael Michalak made the remark at a recent meeting with the Vietnamese community in California to discuss human rights in Vietnam . While rejecting the US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s proposal to return Vietnam to the list of CPC over religion, Michalak said that the US Department of State stated that there was not enough evidence to put Vietnam back on the list. He briefed those attending on the real situation of human rights in Vietnam as well as the results of economic cooperation between the two countries. According to the diplomat, more than 12,000 Vietnamese students have come to study in the US during the first half of his term of office.    more »

The Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA): USIRF should not repeat old stories. Thien Giao, RFA Reporter 2009-05-21 Last week, the delegation of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom USCIRF arrived in Vietnam to study the situation of religious freedom in Vietnam. Meeting with the GCRA is an agenda item of the delegation. In response to the interview of Radio Free Asia eporter Thien Giao, the Vice Director of GCRA, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Xuan, stated that both United States and Vietnam parties have agreed upon a new approach of perceiving religious matters in Vietnam. The Vice Director has also mentioned on the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), the Thai Ha Parish, Hoa Hao, Rev Nguyen Van Ly, The government policy on religious ownership of land, etc. ******************************************************************************* The translator of the article has given some additional historical background to this statement about landownership by the Catholic Church and the Vietnamese government's perceived right to confiscate it, as well as withdraw the issue from the USCIRF agenda: "In translating the article below into English, there is a term “dia chu” which I don’t know how to convey the meaning behind it properly. Historically, during 1950’s in North Vietnam, the communist government considered those who own land i.e., landowners as criminals. The term “dia chu” in Vietnamese has a negative meaning. In the interview, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Xuan mentioned Catholic Church in VN at that time as “dia chu nha chung” i.e., Church landowner with the meaning that the Church became “dia chu” - criminal because it owned many land areas. The goverment measure of capturing church’s lands was considered as an enforcement of the “law”. Therefore, those captured lands should not be returned. The sarcastic remark of author Thien GIao “Luckily...” at the top of his article implies this." Dr Nguyen Thanh Xuan: Previously, in Vietnam, there existed a concept of “Church landowner”, i.e. the Catholic Church has become landowner --> Luckily, the VN Communist Party did not root out (get rid of) the Catholic Church because of that. Meeting with USCIRF Thien Giao: As informed, last week, the USIRF had a meeting with GCRA. As the Vice Director of GCRA, would you share the meeting content? Dr Nguyen Thanh Xuan: It’s true that the delegation met the GCRA. It was a straight forward conversation. The USIRF has mentioned the progression of religious freedom practice in Vietnam. They put many questions on religious practices in particular areas such as Northwest and West highlands. The key point this time is that we agreed with the delegation on the approach of perceiving religious matters in Vietnam. We agreed not to look at exceptional events but the holistic dynamic evolution of religious matters in Vietnam. Particular a, b, c events may worth certain concerns but not the whole issue. We also admitted that on the process of accomplishing the legal framework, there are some particular points which could not be fulfilled well at lower local levels. Thien Giao: It was said that GCRA requested USIRF not to meet with priests of Thai Ha parish, but later on there was higher level permission. Is it true? Dr Nguyen Thanh Xuan, The delegation did request us to arrange a meeting with Thai Ha parish but we said the Thai Ha issue does not relate to religion practice. It is an appeal related to land use. While in Vietnam, such an issue is not in existence. ** We have explained clearly with the delegation that issue on such a base, so the USRIF has removed it from their agenda. It is totally the internal issue of Vietnam. Even the delegation has shared with us some other land use related issues. We’ve also mentioned to them that, Vietnam population has been quintuplicate in the 20th century, while land area remains the same. Previously, it’s due to historical circumstance, religious organizations including the Catholic Church possessed enormous land. In the past, in Vietnam, there existed a concept of “Church landowner”, i.e, the Church has become landowner. Therefore, those lands, which are possessed by the state, will not be returned to religious organizations. The government will grant land for infrastructure buildings such as monasteries, schools, headquarters basically based on the religious need. Old story? Thien Giao: You’ve mentioned the agreed approach should be based on a general perception, not specific issue. However, there is some specific issues such as the UBCV, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao, Protestant churches etc. Do they reflect a different image of current religious practice in VN? Dr Nguyen Thanh Xuan: I would respond to these issues as follows: We suggested the USIRF put the issue of UBCV out of the religious freedom concerns in VN. Hoa Hao, the reactivation of Hoa Hao Buddhist Church and other issues should not be raised. They were raised 3, 4 times already. Those old issues should not be raised at every visit. Mr. Nguyen Van Ly has been tried. The delegation has raised this issue at every visit. We’ve advised them to get rid of those issues from the working agenda, instead to focus on new issues which concern us. Thien Giao: May I make a parenthesis here before asking you the last question. You’ve mentioned of not raising old issues. So, are they old because the time has passed and they become old or is it not necessary to raise those issues? Dr. Nguyen Thanh Xuan: Not necessary! Everybody has talked a lot about them. What is the nature of UBCV? What does it mean to those who are self-styledly leading it? What does it mean to Nguyen Van Ly who violated the Vietnam law? Whenever visiting VN, USIRF again raises those old issues. I mean the cases are closed. Thien Giao: My last question is that, based on current circumstance, with a realistic view, what does the government admit on current religious issues in Vietnam? Dr. Nguyen Thanh Xuan: Our Government, the Party and the state of Vietnam self assess that we have had great effort and achieve huge progress, very positive improvement. We admit that before the issuance of Reform – Doi Moi policies, we had some limitation in perception or behavior. However, after Doi Moi, we’ve made great progress. I would say that the progress in realization of reform religious policy has the same pace with other reforms in economy, culture and society of our nation, otherwise, it has even some advanced progress. Thien Giao: Thank you for your time.    more »

The People's Democratic Party dangdanchunhandan@yahoo.com http://ddcnd.org/main/ - Regarding the answer of Mr. Le Dung, spokesman of Viet Nam Ministry of Foreign on situation of the arrested pro-democracy activists. Viet Nam – September 27, 2008 – With regards to international news media, inquiring on the situations of the arrests of pro-democracy activists: Mr. Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Tran Van Thach, Ngo Quynh, Pham Van Troi, Pham Thanh Nghien, Nguyen Van Tuc and Tran Duc Thach, here are the development. On September 26, 2008, Mr. Le Dung, spokesman of the Viet Nam Foreign Ministry, answered as followed: “Based on our information, on September 8, 10 and 13, the investigation officials of The Ministry of Security have arrested and detained Mr. Ngo Quynh (Bac Giang, born in 1984), Mr. Nguyen Xuan Nghia (Hai Phong, born in 1949), Mr. Pham Van Troi (Ha Noi, born in 1972), Mr. Nguyen Van Tuc (Thai Binh, born in 1964) and Mr. Tran Duc Thach (Nghe An, born in 1962) due to their violations of Viet Nam’s law. We will conduct our investigation based on Vietnam 's regulation. Ms. Pham Thanh Nghien (Hai Phong, born in 1977) was not arrested.” Mr. Le Dung is either not taking his job seriously or he is not telling the truth. Based on our up-to-date information, the following pro-democracy activists were arrested and still being detained: Arrested on September 10, 2008 including Mr. Nguyen Xuan Nghia in Hai Phong, Mr. Pham Van Troi in Ha Tay, Mr. Nguyen Van Tuc in Thai Binh and Tran Duc Thach in Nghe An. - Arrested on September 18, 2008 including Mr. Vu Hung in Ha Tay and Ms. Pham Thanh Nghien in Hai Phong. - Arrested on September 25, 2008, Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh in Hai Phong and Mr. Nguyen Kim Nhan in Bac Giang. - Mr. Ngo Quynh, arrested on September 10, 2008, and was released on September 26, 2008 but continuing to see security officials for interrogation. The People’s Democratic Party calls upon Hanoi authorities to release these pro-democracy activists immediately, allow them returning to their families. Exercising the freedom of expression is not a crime and to be in line with The Socialist Republic of Vietnam's Constitution in Article 69. Regards, Do Thanh Cong Spokesperson of the People's Democratic Party Đảng Dân chủ Nhân dân dangdanchunhandan@yahoo.com http://ddcnd.org/main/ ********************************************************************** Bản Thông Tin Báo Chí - Về tuyên bố của Phát ngôn nhân Bộ ngoại giao Việt Nam liên quan đến trường hợp bắt giữ các Chiến sĩ Dân chủ. Việt Nam – Ngày 27 tháng 9 năm 2008 – Khi các ký giả ngoại quốc hỏi về lý do giam giữ các nhà dân chủ gồm Nguyễn Xuân Nghiã, Trần Văn Thạch, Ngô Quỳnh, Phạm Văn Trội, Nguyễn Văn Túc, Phạm Thanh Nghiên và Trần Đức Thạch. Ông Lê Dũng, phát ngôn nhân của nhà cầm quyền Hà Nội, ngày 26/9/2008 đã trả lời như sau: “Theo thông tin chúng tôi nhận được, ngày 8, 10 và 13/9/2008, Cơ quan An ninh Điều tra, Bộ Công an đã bắt, tạm giữ Ngô Quỳnh (sinh năm 1984, ở Bắc Giang), Nguyễn Xuân Nghĩa (sinh năm 1949, ở Hải Phòng), Phạm Văn Trội (sinh năm 1972, ở Hà Nội), Nguyễn Văn Túc (sinh năm 1964, ở Thái Bình), Trần Đức Thạch (sinh năm 1962, ở Nghệ An) do các hành vi vi phạm pháp luật Việt Nam. Quá trình điều tra, xử lý các đối tượng này sẽ được thực hiện theo đúng trình tự, thủ tục pháp luật quy định. Phạm Thanh Nghiên (sinh năm 1977, ở Hải Phòng) không bị bắt “ Ông Lê Dũng hoặc đã không nắm vững sự kiện, hoặc ông nói dối. Cho đến hôm nay, các chiến sĩ dân chủ đã bị nhà cầm quyền Hà nội bắt và hiện vẫn còn bị giam như sau: - Ngày 10/9/2008 gồm: Nguyễn Xuân Nghĩa ở Hải Phòng, Phạm Văn Trội ở Hà Tây, Nguyễn Văn Túc ở Thái Bình và Trần Đức Thạch ở Nghệ An. - Ngày 18/9/2008 công an bắt anh Vũ Hùng ở Hà Tây, chị Phạm Thanh Nghiên ở Hải Phòng. - Ngày 25/9/2008 bắt thêm Nguyễn Văn Tính ở Hải Phòng và Nguyễn Kim Nhàn ở Bắc Giang. - Ngày 26/9/2008 công an đã trả tự do cho Ngô Quỳnh, dù vậy anh Ngô Quỳnh vẫn liên tục phải làm việc với công an. Đảng Dân chủ Nhân dân kêu gọi nhà cầm quyền Hà Nội hãy sớm trả tự do cho những chiến sĩ dân chủ để họ sớm đoàn tụ với gia đình. Như đã nhiều lần minh định, bày tỏ quyền bất đồng chính kiến không có tội và hoàn toàn phù hợp với điều 69, Hiến pháp nước Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam. Trân trọng, Đỗ Thành Công Phát ngôn nhân Đảng Dân chủ Nhân dân    more »

Response to “The Night that Changed McCain’s Life” by John King, CNN Chief National Correspondant http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/18/revealed.mccain.vietnam/index.html?iref=newssearch Comments on this article are about the false statements to the CNN correspondent by Vietnamese people that he interviewed in Hanoi. First, the witness Nguyen Dang Doanh describes the people pushing Lt. Cmdr. McCain in his life jacket to the edge of lake Ho Truc Bach as a life-saving event. In fact, his injuries were not from the ejection, but by the villagers who came into the lake and beat him. This is described in Senator McCain’s book and video about his imprisonment. The nurse Nguyen Thi Tranh describes her bandaging the injured pilot’s arms and leg when he was brought to the first aid station. According to Senator McCain, his arm was broken again after he was imprisoned in one of the outlying jungle prisons. He was beaten and tortured, and treatment was withheld when he refused to early released based on international illegality. McCain finally signed a false confession after four days of beatings, as John King explains very well. The then-prison director of the Central Hanoi / Hanoi Hilton prison Tran Trong Duyet says in recent interview that “our nation is civilized and humanitarian and you do not understand the Vietnamese nation. We never beat anybody.” John King refutes the Duyet statement with one from Ernie Brace, who was imprisoned in Hoa Lo at the same time as John McCain (1967 – 1972) and was also beaten and bones broken. This is the time period of Tran Trong Duyet’s directorship. My recommendation to John King and other national and international reporters is to look at prison conditions in Vietnam today to see the duplicity of his Vietnamese informants. Freelance journalist Truong Minh Duc is in prison in Vietnam today for his alleged violation of Clause 2 of Section 258 of the Vietnam Penal Code, by “taking advantages of the people’s liberty and democracy rights to harm the interests of the country”. Duc was arrested and imprisoned since May 5, 2007. On July 18, 2008 his five-year sentence was confirmed. Last December Truong Minh Duc broke his hand in a fall inside the prison. He was not x-rayed or even splinted until Reporters Without Borders and Vietnamese overseas (who left the country as refugees and now living useful lives) made complaints to the Vietnamese government and the American Embassy. The Embassy officials called Mr. Truong’s wife to inquire. My source is the Vietnamese Populist Party, based in Houston, interview of General Secretary of Nguyen CongBang on August 19, 2008: “The only political prisoners who receive somewhat proper treatment are those who are well-known or now citizens of other countries. This is because the government is afraid of international condemnation. For the unknown prisoners who are Vietnamese citizens the treatment is still very bad.” Journalist Truong Minh Duc received surgery on his arm in June, shortly before his hearing on July 18 which confirmed his five-year sentence: “As the court session started, the judge told Duc that the court would reduce his sentence to four years or less if he would openly admit his “crime against the state”. Duc immediately refused the judge’s offer and insisted that his works did not violate any laws of Vietnam; instead, they were to expose government officials of their illegal actions such as power abuses and corruption. “ The major charge is “Joining the Dang Vi Dan” (Vietnam Populist Party) an underground political party that advocates for a free and fair general election in Vietnam). Journalist Truong Minh Duc is a member of both the Vietnam Populist Party and Bloc 8406. Since 1994, he has assisted several victims of government’s corruption and power abuses in southern provinces, and authored a number of articles published in Vietnam and overseas. Prior to the appeal court, Duc's wife affirmed his persistent stand (via RFA) in pursuing his ideals: “I strongly believe that campaigning for democracy, freedom, social justice, and welfare for the poor people, is not a crime. I will continue to defend and fight for the people’s rights and values, even when I am still in prison.” See the DVD (Vietnam Populist Party) English language web page: http://www.vietnampopulist.org/ Jean Libby, editor VietAm Review http://vietamreview.blogharbor.com Jean Libby is editor of the blog VietAm Review and Allies for Freedom publishers. The first book of the Nhan Quyen Tai Viet Nam Series is forthcoming on October 20, 2008. It is two stories of prison conditions in Vietnam including the Hoa Lo prison by the renowned dissident poet and author Nguyen Chi Thien. see www.vietamreview.net/Hai_Truyen_Tu.html   more »

White House statement covers topics of agreement on trade, energy, human rights, Vietnamese Americans' "contribution to the promotion of the relationship between the two countries." "President Bush welcomed these contributions and reiterated the U.S. government's support for Vietnam's national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity." The United Nations and ASEAN were discussed. United States Education Cooperation with Vietnam In a Memorandum of Understanding signed by United States Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James Glassman and Vietnam Vice Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan, the two countries: • Expressed their wish to enhance friendship between peoples and cooperation in the field of higher education; • Recognized the importance of higher education in economic development; and • Recognized the importance of public-private sector partnerships between American and Vietnamese universities, colleges, and other organizations that support training and education projects. To develop strategies to deepen cooperation further in higher education, including contacts between educational institutions, they agreed to establish an Education Task Force, which will: • Encourage more and deeper linkages and joint programs between American and Vietnamese universities (including discussions about the best path to create a U.S. model higher education institution in Vietnam with the support of American universities and colleges, and simplifying procedures to establish new education and exchange programs in Vietnam); • Increase the number of Vietnamese studying at American universities and colleges, especially PhD students (including the United States’ initiative to facilitate an increase in the number of Vietnamese students studying in universities in the United States at all levels, and the Vietnamese interest in seeing more Vietnamese receiving United States graduate degrees); and • Promote educational programs designed to help Vietnamese students acquire the skills needed in Vietnam’s modernizing economy.    more »

The People’s Democratic Party – Feb. 26, 2008: We would like to make available this top-secret directive from the Hanoi Politburo/Central Committee of the Vietnam Communist Party detailing the “treatment of political trials” to various people and democratic organizations, both in and outside of Vietnam . The official communique came from The Central Committee of the Vietnam Communist Party, signed by a high-ranking political cadre named Truong Tan Sang, with limited circulation among the political infrastructure and high echelon members. This is a secret document and was recalled after circulation. So far, a number of top-level political cadres in the Vietnam Communist Party such as President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, have always maintained in the international press that Vietnam does not persecute or imprison political prisoners. If that is the case, we don’t know what to make of political prisoners in Vietnam such as Father Nguyen Van Ly, lawyers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan, Nguyen Bac Truyen, Tran Quoc Hien, Doctor Le Nguyen Sang, reporter Huynh Nguyen Dao, Nguyen Phong, Doan van Dien, Tran Thi Le Hong, Doan Huy Chuong also known as Nguyen Tan Hoanh, etc… This document therefore would put to rest with the public at large that the persecution and prison sentences of the dissidents are indeed “political trials” and that the Vietnamese Communist Party “absolutely cannot permit the opposing political parties to organize” in Vietnam. Regards, Tran Nam, Spokesperson for the People's Democratic Party NOTICE Conclusion of the Political Party Concerning raising the bar of quality and effectiveness in the execution of the political trials in the face of new development. In the meeting of August 16, 2007, after hearing the report of the law enforcement agencies regarding the situation and results of the disposition of the recent political trials, the Central Committee has discussed and has come up with the following assessment: Recently, the disposition of these political trials have achieved some degree of success, with the intent to make example of or to teach a lesson, to effectively prevent the contrarian political activities of the enemy forces while they are still in the embryonic stages, not allowing them from publicly establishing themselves in the country to organize violent insurrection, in order to overthrow the rule of the people. So we need to fortify the security measures for our political stability and peaceful order in society, to protect the rule of socialism, to resolutely contribute to the economic and societal development, to build a political system and promote the strength of the whole solidarity bloc of our nation populace, to ensure the perpetuation and stability of socialism. Our teams of cadres and soldiers who specialize in the ad-hoc task forces have made efforts in the execution of the political trials and to show steadfast loyalty to the Fatherland, to uphold their political integrity, possessing a high sense of duty, completing their responsibility and assignment given to them. On behalf of the Politburo Members of the Central Committee Signed and Sealed Truong Tan Sang Recipients: - Provincial and Municipal Committees - Technocrat committee, party associations, party committees under direct rule central committee - Comrades committee members of the Ruling Central Committee - Copied to the Central Committee   more »

The ongoing protest against Viet Weekly is a natural response from those who have felt insulted by the publication over the years. The author mentions the article that is often cited as the basis of the protest, but that is merely the straw that broke the camel's back. Viet Weekly always boasts of having found a new form of journalism by a young generation of reporters in Little Saigon. In reality, these self-styled journalists have managed to insult some person or the community in almost every issue of the publication. When the call for protest came, it brought together all elements in the community to build up a perfect storm against the newspaper… The persecution continues even today and did not end some 30 years ago, as many like to believe. Non-Vietnamese may not understand why a display of a communist symbol can invoke such intense reaction. But to many Vietnamese, these symbols bring back the nightmares that they lived through or risked their lives to escape from. They want to forget the past and get on with their lives, but they cannot tolerate the kind of provocation that Viet Weekly and Mr. Tran Truong exhibited to their faces… The protest against Viet Weekly is only a natural response to the journalism menace practiced by the newspaper. To judge the protest against Viet Weekly, one must understand what the publication truly did to many of those protesters. This editorial opinion is by Lan Quoc Nguyen, President of the Garden Grove (California) Board of Education. The full article was published in the L.A. Times on September 14, 2007. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-nguyen14sep14,0,2124873.story?coll=la-opinion-center   more »

If Nick Schou ("A Vietnam War in O.C." in L.A. Times Sept. 6, 2007) investigated how many are voting American citizens among the people he calls “Vietnamese exiles” he might think again about his knee-jerk reactionary rhetoric. This is the regime that is supported by the publisher of Viet Weekly, Le Vu. He has been caught red-handed cutting and pasting articles from the Communist papers into his own. His Spring 2007 trip to Hanoi to cover the police manhandling of women outside the Ambassador’s residence in the presence of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is a good example. On the previous day the former Ambassador Michael Marine had written a powerful op-ed essay criticizing the Vietnam government and political imprisonment of Father Nguyen Van Ly... There was a demonstration of 2,000 people in Saigon only a month ago who demanded redress for their losses in the aftermath of communist victory. They were forcefully dispersed into the countryside in military trucks. One elderly woman demonstrator died. An African news agency says there were more. It’s not about yesterday that 1,000 Vietnamese Americans in Orange County are peacefully assembling and protesting within the law, it’s about today. Jean Libby's response is based on experience with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi press office, which has done the same obfuscation technique with Nick Schou. As an investigative journalist with a recent book on the alliance of the CIA with the cocaine traffic that was exposed by Gary Webb in the San Jose Mercury in 1996, and then denied by that newspaper, the OC Weekly investigative editor has done little investigative reporting for this story. He prefers to vilify and ridicule the Orange County Vietnamese American population.   more »

First response is to article published in the L.A. Times September 2, 2007 by Mike Anton, Times Staff Writer, by Jean Libby, editor, VietAm Review. Comparison is made to American civil rights demonstrations in the 1960s when local whites opposed to the demonstrations were treated as experts on Constitutional issues of free speech and free press because that makes an easy story for the reporter. One line only is quoted from an organizer of the demonstrations, Long Kim Pham. Viet Weekly editor's Le Vu is discussed, and a brief history of Viet Am Review articles on the topic, which have centered on Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Orange County), and former Ambassador Michael Marine at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi. Comments on the OC Weekly article by Nick Schou center on this press conference and manipulation of the audio tape by Viet Weekly. The Embassy denies knowing anything about the controversy. The position of Viet Am Review in opposing Viet Weekly is complimented by California Assemblyman Van Tran (R-Garden Grove).   more »

We the undersigned are the interim representatives of Bloc 8406, who represent tens of thousands of those who have signed the Manifesto on Freedom & Democracy for Vietnam, released on April 8, 2006, to openly confront the Communist dictatorship in a non-violent struggle for a democratic, free, and pluralistic Vietnam....We also know that you have met on August 10 a number of our compatriots in Washington, D.C. You indicated at this meeting that when you assume your position in Vietnam, you shall focus your attention on the issues of human rights, economic development, as well as education in Vietnam. We believe that these are the real issues currently facing our country. They are inter-related since there is a serious lack of respect for human rights and the Vietnamese people have lost all freedoms and are thereby unable to contribute fully to the economic development of the country. This, in turn, results in a stagnated and backward education system. Signed by four interim representatives of Bloc 8406 on August 16, 2007.    more »

Statements of U.S. Ambassador Michael Marine in leaving office in Vietnam have been reported quite differently by the Associated Press and the Communist-controlled media known as Vietnambridge. Disappointment and disapproval of the regime for jailing political activists by Ambassador Marine characterizes the AP report; chirping congratulations to Vietnam for achieving PTNR status with the US and the visits between presidents Triet and Bush are the subjects of Vietnamnet.   more »

Thank you Tieng Dan Weekly for the attached copy of the response from Nguyen Tam Chien of the VN Embassy to a letter from Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D - San Jose) regarding the recent demonstration and arrests in Saigon. The letter is particularly odious and deceptive, saying that the issue is not human rights but "land disputes" as "stated by sources unfriendly to Vietnam." The letter, dated August 1, 2007, was authorized by VN President Nguyen Minh Triet. Congresswoman Lofgren is fighting hard and well to insure the rights of small groups of immigrants and their children to the USA as well as speaking out for human rights in Vietnam. Her battle with showboating Republicans who are appealing to ethnic prejudice with "immigration backlash" as chair of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee is front-page news in the San Francisco Chronicle today. Also in Congress yesterday, Representative Tom Lantos (D - San Mateo), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has opened an inquiry into the conduct of Yahoo when it turned over information to Chinese officials about the pro-democracy journalist Shi Tao. A human rights group has recently published the search warrant presented by China to Yahoo to gain information and it is clear to Congressman Lantos that Yahoo should be investigated for misrepresenting their role in the jailing of Mr. Shi Tao. Jean Libby, editor, VietAm Review.   more »

Michael Michalak, who was nominated by President Bush on May 24 to replace Michael Marine as Ambassador to Vietnam, has testified to two key U.S. senators, Barbara Boxer (D- California) and James Webb (R – Virginia) that he will seek improved human relations performance by the current VN government after his expected confirmation by the Senate. In response to questions by Senator Boxer on the nature of the crackdown on human rights in Vietnam, Mr. Michalak suggested the U.S. State Dept. could implement current human rights dialogue and a “public diplomacy program to train investigative journalists.” The American Embassy in Hanoi has been following the Viet Weekly’s attacks and lies too. They provided me with an actual transcript of the press conference on April 6, 2007, which proves the pro-communist proclivity and the complete absence of education about the U.S. Constitution, rights and responsibilities of the press, by the Viet Weekly. Jean Libby, editor, VietAm Review   more »

This is a presentation of documentary evidence of significant differences between a published audio recording by Viet Weekly Magazine of a press conference held by the American Embassy at the Hilton Hanoi on April 6, 2007 and the official Embassy transcription of that conference. I received the Embassy transcription from James Warren, Counselor for Public Affairs, on July 7 after repeated inquiries beginning May 29, 2007. This press conference is still not listed on the American Embassy website, although other press conferences that occurred afterward are given normal coverage. It was transcribed from a recording in the U.S. at an unknown date. The substance of my charge continues to be evidence of Viet Weekly’s manipulation of the audio recording and their pro-Communist viewpoint, which can be seen further in their absence of coverage of the press conference of April 6 regarding the physical prevention of invited guests at the Ambassador’s residence from entering his home by the Vietnamese police. It is clear that Ambassador Michael Marine has been violated by the Vietnamese police by their actions toward his invited guests who are Vietnamese citizens. This was the major topic of the press conference and the context of his statements. Jean Libby, VietAm Review   more »

To conclude: Viet Weekly can not hide its pro-communist stand. When its act is caught by the Vietnamese community that is predominantly anti-communist, its staff instead of recognizing the wrong doings and apologize to the community, they aggravated the problems by committing plenty of lies to cover them up. This cover-up can be seen as a “small scale Watergate scandal” within the Vietnamese media and the Vietnamese community. By spreading lies and inventing facts to back them up, Viet Weekly can no longer be trusted as a credible media organization. Phu Le. After the press release of April 5, 2007, in which Ambassador Michael Marine criticized the Vietnamese government specifically for political imprisonment and naming Father Ly, the American Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez who was escorting the wife of a political prisoner to the Ambassador’s home was prevented from entering. The Vietnamese woman was physically prevented by Communist police. After the Ambassador protested this to the Deputy Prime Minister Kheim with the American Congressional delegation on April 6, he was reportedly asked to resign by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. His resignation takes effect July 31. His nominated replacement is the Ambassador to APEC Michael Michalak. The extraordinary APEC appointment at Ambassador level was made by President Bush in November 2005 and confirmed by the Senate in February 2006. The nomination for Ambassador to Vietnam was sent to the Senate on May 24, 2007. Jean Libby   more »