EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Hanoi , Vietnam AMBASSADOR May 15, 2009 Phạm Đức Hải Editor in Chief Tuoi Tre Newspaper 60 A Hoang Van Thu Ward 9 Phu Nhuan District Ho Chi Minh City Dear Editor Phạm Đức Hải: It was with great disappointment that I read "An Unusual Story" in your May 11 edition. I was indeed in Ho Chi Minh City recently where I met with a number of people including government officials and private citizens. As the United States Ambassador to Vietnam , it is both my job and my privilege to regularly meet with Vietnamese citizens from all across this country and from all walks of life. Through my conversations I have learned much that has given me an ever-growing appreciation for this country and its wonderful people which has in turn informed our policy. Thus I was saddened to read an article that you and I both know to be a complete fabrication. Tuoi Tre has long been considered one of Vietnam 's foremost publications and had been respected for its professionalism and integrity. Your publishing of "An Unusual Story" is a departure from those defining characteristics, and a disservice to your readers. The presence of a vibrant and active media is key to Vietnam 's continuing growth and expansion of its important role in the region and around the world. It is my fondest hope that Tuoi Tre will be a positive player in that growth and continue its proud tradition of journalistic integrity. Sincerely, Michael W. Michalak cc: H.E. Phạm Gia Khiêm Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Lê Doãn Hợp Minister of Information and Communication H.E. Lê Hồng Anh Minister of Public Security Major General Huỳnh Hữu Chiến Deputy Head General Department of Security Ho Ch Minh City ------------------------ Bản dịch tiếng Việt: Ngày 15 tháng 5 năm 2009 Ông Phạm Đức Hải Tổng biên tập báo Tuổi Trẻ 60 A Hoàng Văn Thụ, Phường 9 Quận Phú Nhuận Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh Thư Tổng biên tập Phạm Đức Hải: Tôi rất thất vọng khi đọc bài "Chuyện không bình thường" trên số báo ngày 11 tháng 5 của ông. Quả thực gần đây tôi đã ở Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh và gặp gỡ một số người, bao gồm các quan chức chính quyền và các công dân. Là Đại sứ Hoa Kỳ tại Việt Nam , việc thường xuyên gặp gỡ các công dân Việt Nam ở khắp nơi trên cả nước và thuộc mọi tầng lớp trong xã hội vừa là công việc vừa là đặc quyền của tôi. Qua các cuộc nói chuyện của mình, tôi đã biết được nhiều điều khiến tôi ngày càng đánh giá cao đất nước này và những người dân tuyệt vời ở đây, và về phía họ, họ cũng cung cấp thông tin cho chính sách của chúng tôi. Vì vậy, tôi thấy buồn khi đọc một bài báo mà cả ông và tôi đều biết rằng đó là một sự bịa đặt hoàn toàn. Từ lâu nay Tuổi Trẻ được coi là một trong những ấn phẩm hàng đầu của Việt Nam và đã được trân trọng về tính chuyên nghiệp và chính trực của báo. Việc báo đăng bài "Chuyện không bình thường" là một sự lệch hướng khỏi những đặc điểm định hình bản sắc đó, và làm tổn hại đến độc giả của báo. Sự hiện diện của một hệ thống truyền thông hoạt động mạnh mẽ và tích cực là điều cốt yếu để Việt Nam tiếp tục phát triển và mở rộng vai trò quan trọng của mình ở trong khu vực và trên thế giới. Tôi rất hy vọng rằng Tuổi Trẻ sẽ đóng vai trò tích cực trong quá trình phát triển đó và tiếp tục truyền thống báo chí chính trực đáng tự hào của báo. Trân trọng, Michael W. Michalak Đại sứ Hoa Kỳ tại Việt Nam Đồng kính gửi: Ngài Phạm Gia Khiêm Phó Thủ tướng kiêm Bộ trưởng Ngoại giao Ngài Lê Doãn Hợp Bộ trưởng Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông Ngài Lê Hồng Anh Bộ trưởng Bộ Công an Thiếu tướng Huỳnh Hữu Chiến Phó Tổng cục trưởng Tổng cục An ninh Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh   more »

Tuần lễ vừa qua, Ủy Ban Tự Do Tôn Giáo Quốc Tế Hoa Kỳ USCIRF đến Việt Nam để tìm hiểu về tình hình tự do tôn giáo tại Việt Nam. Trong nhiều hoạt động và gặp gỡ, Ủy Ban cũng đã làm việc với Ban Tôn Giáo Chính Phủ. Hàng rào kẽm gai cùng với Công an, Cảnh sát cơ động được dựng lên để ngăn cản các cuộc tụ họp cầu nguyện của giáo dân tại Tòa Khâm Sứ hôm Chủ nhật 21-9-2008. Trả lời phỏng vấn của biên tập viên Thiện Giao, Phó Trưởng Ban Tôn Giáo Chính Phủ, là tiến sĩ Nguyễn Thanh Xuân, nói rằng phía Hoa Kỳ và Việt Nam thỏa thuận một cách tiếp cận mới về vấn đề tôn giáo của Việt Nam. Ông Phó Trưởng Ban cũng đề cập đến Giáo Hội Phật Giáo Việt Nam Thống Nhất, đến giáo xứ Thái Hà, Hòa Hảo, linh mục Nguyễn Văn Lý, chủ trương của Nhà Nước về đất đai tôn giáo, vân vân. Cuộc gặp với USCIRF Thiện Giao: Được biết Ủy Ban Tự Do Tôn Giáo Quốc Tế Hoa Kỳ sang Việt Nam tuần vừa rồi có làm việc với Ban Tôn Giáo Chính Phủ. Với tư cách Phó Trưởng Ban Tôn Giáo Chính Phủ và có tham dự làm việc với Ủy Ban, xin ông chia sẻ nội dung cuộc gặp gỡ? TS Nguyễn Thanh Xuân: Đúng là Ủy Ban và Ban Tôn Giáo có gặp nhau. Đó là một cuộc làm việc thẳng thắn. Ủy Ban Tự Do Tôn Giáo Quốc Tế Hoa Kỳ có đặt vấn đề với chúng tôi về sự tiến triển trong việc thực hiện chính sách tự do tôn giáo tại Việt Nam. Họ hỏi nhiều đến các sinh hoạt tôn giáo ở những khu đặc thù, vùng Tây Bắc Tây Nguyên. Điều quan trọng lần này là chúng tôi thống nhất với các vị trong Ủy Ban về phương pháp tiếp cận tôn giáo Việt Nam. Họ thống nhất với chúng tôi là không nhìn những cá biệt mà nhìn sự vận động toàn cục của vấn đề tôn giáo Việt Nam qua các thời kỳ. TS Nguyễn Thanh Xuân Tuy nhiên, điều quan trọng lần này là chúng tôi thống nhất với các vị trong Ủy Ban về phương pháp tiếp cận tôn giáo Việt Nam. Họ thống nhất với chúng tôi là không nhìn những cá biệt mà nhìn sự vận động toàn cục của vấn đề tôn giáo Việt Nam qua các thời kỳ. Những việc a, việc b, việc c liên quan đến những vụ việc cụ thể chỉ là những điểm nào đó để quan tâm, chứ không phải là tất cả. Chúng tôi cũng thừa nhận, trong quá trình hoàn chỉnh pháp lý, có thể có những điều ở địa phương, ở cơ sở, vẫn chưa làm hết được. Thiện Giao: Có người nói rằng Ban Tôn Giáo Chính Phủ có yêu cầu Ủy Ban Tự Do Tôn Giáo Quốc Tế Hoa Kỳ không gặp các tu sĩ tại giáo xứ Thái Hà. Nhưng về sau có các cấp khác cao hơn, cho phép. Có những cản trở như vậy không? TS Nguyễn Thanh Xuân: Ủy Ban có đề nghị chúng tôi để gặp giáo xứ Thái Hà. Nhưng chúng tôi nói, việc của giáo xứ Thái Hà không liên quan đến hoạt động tôn giáo. Đó chỉ là khiếu kiện liên quan đến đất đai. Mà ở Việt Nam, việc này không phải là không có. Chúng tôi cũng đã giải thích cho Ủy Ban rằng việc này, trên cơ sở như vậy, nên Tòa Đại Sứ Hoa Kỳ không đặt vấn đề trong các chương trình hoạt động của mình. Đó là việc hoàn toàn mang tính nội bộ của Việt Nam. Và thậm chí họ còn chia sẻ với Việt Nam các vấn đề liên quan đến đất đai. Chúng tôi cũng nói với họ, ở Việt Nam trong 1 thế kỷ 20 thôi, dân số đã tăng gấp 5 lần, mà đất đai thì không tăng. Trước khi đó, do hoàn cảnh, thì các tôn giáo, trong đó có Công Giáo bao chiếm và sở hữu rất nhiều đất. Tại Việt Nam trước đây đã có khái niệm “địa chủ Nhà Chung,” tức là Nhà Chung, hay Giáo Hội, đã trở thành địa chủ. Do đó, tất cả đất đai Nhà Nước đã sở hữu thì không trả lại cho các tôn giáo. Nhà Nước giải quyết nhu cầu thờ tự, nhu cầu các cơ sở như dòng tu, trường, trụ sở, là căn bản theo nhu cầu. Không trả lại đất đai. Mà nếu có trả lại đất đai tôn giáo, thì hiện nay đất đai tôn giáo rất nhiều, nên không thể trả được. Chuyện cũ? Thiện Giao: Ông có nói phương pháp tiếp cận thỏa thuận với Ủy Ban là tổng quát, chứ không phải là những vấn đề cụ thể. Tuy nhiên, có những vấn đề rất cụ thể, như Giáo Hội Phật Giáo Việt Nam Thống Nhất, Cao Đài, Hòa Hảo, Tin Lành, vân vân. Thưa ông, những vấn đề cụ thể này có cho thấy một điều gì khác hơn về hình ảnh của tôn giáo Việt Nam hiện nay? TS Nguyễn Thanh Xuân: Điều này thì tôi xin thưa: vấn đề Giáo Hội Phật Giáo Việt Nam Thống Nhất chúng tôi yêu cầu Ủy Ban của Hoa Kỳ loại ra ngoài vấn đề đặt ra thành những điểm, như lưu ý, quan tâm vấn đề tự do tôn giáo Việt Nam. Vấn đề Hòa Hảo, hoạt động phục hoạt của giáo hội Phật Giáo Hòa Hảo, các vấn đề khác, thì không nên nêu lên nữa. Đã nêu lên 3, 4 lần rồi. Không phải là mỗi lần đến Việt Nam lại nêu lên các điểm đã cũ. Không phải là mỗi lần đến Việt Nam lại nêu lên các điểm đã cũ. Ông Nguyễn Văn Lý là đã bị xử án rồi. Lần nào đến cũng nêu lại chuyện này. Loại tất cả các vấn đề này ra. Vấn đề này cũ rồi. Hãy đặt vấn đề mới mà chúng tôi quan tâm. TS Nguyễn Thanh Xuân Ông Nguyễn Văn Lý là đã bị xử án rồi. Lần nào đến cũng nêu lại chuyện này. Loại tất cả các vấn đề này ra. Vấn đề này cũ rồi. Hãy đặt vấn đề mới mà chúng tôi quan tâm. Thiện Giao: Cũng xin được mở ngoặc với ông trước khi hỏi ông câu cuối. Ông có nói không đặt các vấn đề này ra, nó cũ rồi. Thưa ông, nó cũ vì thời gian đã cũ rồi, hay là vấn đề này không cần phải đặt ra nữa? TS Nguyễn Thanh Xuân: Không cần đặt ra nữa! Mọi người đã nói nhiều rồi. Giáo Hội Phật Giáo Việt Nam Thống Nhất bản chất là gì? Cái của những người mạo xưng nó là gì? Giáo Hội Phật Giáo Hòa Hảo với việc của ông Lê Quang Liêm là cái gì? Ông Nguyễn Văn Lý vi phạm pháp luật Việt Nam là cái gì? Mỗi lần vào Việt Nam lại đặt vấn đề cũ. Cũ, ý tôi muốn nói là đã rõ ra rồi. Thiện Giao: Câu hỏi cuối cùng. Dựa trên những vấn đề thực tế hiện nay, với một cái nhìn hết sức thực tế, Chính Phủ Việt Nam nhìn nhận vấn đề tôn giáo hiện nay tại Việt Nam ra sao? TS Nguyễn Thanh Xuân: Chính Phủ chúng tôi, Đảng và Nhà Nước Việt Nam, trong đánh giá của mình, phải nói là nỗ lực của chính phủ, Đảng, Nhà Nước, là rất lớn. Chuyển biến rất tiến bộ, rất tích cực. Chúng tôi công nhận trước đổi mới có những điều chưa tới. Còn những hạn chế trong nhận thức, ứng xử. Nhưng sau đổi mới, đấy là tiến bộ rất lớn. Nếu đặt ngang mặt bằng với sự đổi mới về kinh tế, văn hóa, xã hội của đất nước, thì vấn đề tôn giáo, không nói là đi trước, vượt trước, nhưng ngang với sự phát triển và đổi mới nói chung. Thiện Giao: Xin cảm ơn thời gian ông dành cho chúng tôi.   more »

http://www.viettan.org/spip.php?article8596 Viet Tan: http://viettan.org/en URL of this article: http://viettan.org/spip.php?article8596 Royce Effort on Vietnamese Human Rights Passes Key Committee Congressman Ed Royce May 20, 2009 State Department Authorization Contains Royce Amendment on Religious Freedom Washington, D.C. — Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, a bill that authorizes funding for the U.S. Department of State. Importantly, this bill contains an amendment offered by Ed Royce calling on the State Department to relist Vietnam as a "Country of Particular Concern" for violations of religious freedom. The amendment was included in the bill after spirited debate in Committee, led by Royce. "Passage of this bill is an important step to putting the House of Representatives on record as supporting religious freedom in Vietnam. We need to send a message to the State Department that the status quo in Vietnam is unacceptable," said Royce. Since 1999, the U.S. State Department has designated countries that "engage in or tolerate particularly severe violations of religious freedom," as "Countries of Particular Concern." This annual designation puts the violations of specific countries on record, making it a significant diplomatic tool for advancing human rights. Due to Vietnam’s egregious human rights violations, the State Department had previously listed it as one of these countries. In 2006, Vietnam was removed from this annual list. "Some have seen positive steps in Vietnam, but frankly, I don’t see it. Religious freedom remains under attack. The Communist government continues to harass and physically abuse worshipers who don’t follow every last state sanctioned rule," Royce stated. Representative Joseph "Anh" Cao joined Representative Ed Royce as an original cosponsor of H.Res.20 the resolution that provided the text for the amendment. Rep. Ed Royce is a senior member on the Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment Subcommittee. Additionally Royce serves on the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam and the Caucus on Human Rights.   more »

INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST INFORMATION BUREAU (BUREAU INTERNATIONAL D'INFORMATION BOUDDHISTE) Official information service of Vien Hoa Dao, Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam B.P. 60063 - 94472 Boissy Saint Léger cedex (France) - Tel.: Paris (331) 45 98 30 85 Fax : Paris (331) 45 98 32 61 - E-mail : ubcv.ibib@buddhist.com Web : http://www.queme.net For immediate release Paris, 16 May 2009 US Commission on International Religious Freedom visits UBCV leader Thich Quang Do in Saigon PARIS, 16 May 2009 (IBIB) - A delegation from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) visited Patriarch Thich Quang Do of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam today (Saturday 16 May) at the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery in Saigon. The delegation included USCIRF Vice-Chairman Michael Cromartie, David Dettoni, Director of Operations and Outreach, Dr. Scott Flipse, Senior Policy Analyst, and Jane Bocklage, Second Secretary of the US Embassy in Hanoi. The USCIRF, an independent body that advises the US Congress and Administration, is currently in Vietnam to examine the religious freedom situation. In its annual report this month, the USCIRF recommended that Vietnam be re-designated as one of the world’s worst religious freedom violators or “Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) for “continuing systematic and egregious violations of religious freedom and other human rights”. UBCV leader Thich Quang Do, speaking by phone today to Vo Van Ai, the UBCV’s overseas spokesman, said the visit lasted from 10.30am until 12.00, and had been very positive. Large numbers of Security Police remained outside the Monastery throughout the meeting, but did not intervene. The delegation asked about the current situation of the UBCV, which has been a target of government repression since it was outlawed by the Communist authorities in 1981 and supplanted by the State-sponsored Vietnam Buddhist Church. Thich Quang Do told the USCIRF that there were was no improvement regarding the outlawed UBCV. Indeed, repression had become increasingly sophisticated. This month, during the Vesak Festival (Birth of Buddha), Security Police systematically visited Buddhist households, especially in Hue, Danang and areas where support for the UBCV is strong. They threatened and intimidated Buddhists, warning that they would lose their jobs and their children be expelled from school if they continue to frequent “reactionary” UBCV pagodas. “UBCV Buddhists live in a constant climate of fear”, said Thich Quang Do. By creating a State-sponsored Buddhist organization, Vietnam’s long-term aim was to turn Buddhist monks into Communist Party cadres, and ultimately suppress the independent UBCV. “We have no hope for change under the Communist regime. Only radical political change can bring religious freedom and human rights to Vietnam”. Thich Quang Do particularly asked the USCIRF to convey the UBCV’s thanks for the US statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council at the Universal Periodic Review of Vietnam in Geneva last week. “The USA was the only country to specifically call on Vietnam to recognize the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam during the UPR. This was a very timely and welcome proposal”. The USCIRF asked Thich Quang Do about the UBCV’s recent appeal for a month of civil disobedience and demonstrations at home in May to protest against government plans to mine Bauxite in the Central Highlands, and how this issue related to religious freedom ? “The Central Highlands is like the roof of our three countries, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Whoever controls this roof controls our countries”, Thich Quang Do said, noting that tens of thousands of Chinese workers and advisers are being brought into the area. He reminded the delegation that the South Vietnamese army’s withdrawal from the Central Highlands in 1975 had enabled North Vietnamese troops to rapidly invade the country. “If we allow the Chinese to settle in this strategic area, we risk becoming a nation of slaves. If we lose our country, then we lose our freedom. Without freedom, religions cannot survive. This is why the UBCV must take a stand”.--   more »

****************************************************************Vietnam Committee on Human Rights Que Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam BP 60063 - 94472 Boissy Saint Léger cedex - France Tel: +33 1 45 98 30 85 - Fax: +33 1 45 98 32 61 E-mail: queme@free.fr - Web: http://www.queme.net **************************************************************** For immediate release Geneva, 13 May 2009 Report by the UN Human Rights Council on Vietnam’s Universal Periodic Review Vietnam Rejects UN Recommendations for Concrete Reforms to Advance Human Rights GENEVA, 13 May 2009 (VIETNAM COMMITTEE) - The Vietnam Committee on Human Rights expresses deep disappointment at the report of the Universal Periodic Review of Vietnam (UPR) of Vietnam issued by the UN Human Rights Council’s UPR Working Group on Tuesday, 12th May 2009. Whilst accepting some general recommendations on the promotion of human rights, Vietnam rejected many of the concrete proposals made by UN member states for specific measures and reforms to advance human rights. Recommendations on a wide range of issues were made by a host of countries, including Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom, the United States etc. Some of the recommendations rejected by Vietnam are; a) Freedom of Expression and the Press: Increase the independence of the media from the State; authorize independent and privately-run media; lift restrictions on Blogs and the Internet, such as filtering and surveillance; allow the press to play a “watch-dog” role in society; amend the Penal Code to ensure it cannot be used to prevent freedom of expression; release all prisoners of conscience detained for the exercise of free expression; invite the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to visit Vietnam; b) Freedom of Religion: Recognize the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam and allow it to function independently of the [State-sponsored] Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, and recognize Hoa Hao and Cao Dai faiths; speed up registration of Churches and resolve property disputes; invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief to visit Vietnam; c) Rule of Law: Abolish vague “national security” provisions in the Penal Code, including Article 88 on “spreading propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” and Article 258 on “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the State”; establish a list of all prisoners detained under national security provisions and make this list public; cease using national security laws to limit public discussion on multi-party democracy or criticism of the government; abolish Ordinance 44 which authorizes administrative detention without trial under house arrest or in psychiatric facilities for suspected national security offenders; d) Human Rights Defenders: recognize the legitimate rights of individuals and groups to promote human rights and express their opinions and dissent publicly; disseminate the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in Vietnam; engage a dialogue between the government and independent civil society organisations; e) Death Penalty: increase transparency, provide statistics on death sentences and executions (such statistics are currently classified as “State secrets” in Vietnam); move towards abolition of the death penalty. Other recommendations rejected by Vietnam include establishing an independent national human rights institution, and extending a standing invitation to all UN Special Procedures to visit Vietnam. Several countries, including France, deplored that Vietnam had not invited any UN observers since 1998, when the UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance issued a critical report on his visit. Vietnam declared then that the government would never again “accept any individuals or organizations coming to investigate religious freedom or human rights”. Six UN Special Procedures have pending requests to visit Vietnam. Regarding several recommendations on reviewing restrictive laws on religious freedom, the right to a public trial, the adoption of a “whistle-blower” law to protect journalists reporting on corruption from prosecution or harassment, Vietnam declared that these measures “are currently implemented” – although it provided no information as to how this implementation is ensured. “Vietnam’s rejection of these concrete measures reflects its fundamental hostility to the advancement of individual freedoms and human rights in Vietnam, and its systematic attempt to politicise the UPR process” said Vo Van Ai, President of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights. Serious human rights concerns raised by member states during the UPR review on Friday, he noted, had been rejected by Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, head of the Vietnamese delegation as “unfounded reports” and “allegations of ill will about democracy and human rights in Vietnam”. Similarly, specific questions on torture, women’s rights, arbitrary detention, abuse of the freedoms of expression, association and religion were dismissed by high-level officials from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Information and Communications, Government Committee for Religious Affairs and Ministry of Public Security. The officials simply read out pre-prepared statements categorically stating that there are no political prisoners, no torture, no religious repression, no arbitrary detention and no suppression of free expression in Vietnam. Moreover, 15 UN members including the Czech Republic, which holds the current EU Presidency, were excluded from speaking at the UPR review. On behalf of these countries, Ireland formally expressed “sincere disappointment that the UPR, which is supposed to be a process based on the principle of equality, is excluding some countries from speaking”. The 4-hour debate was in fact swamped by members such as North Korea, China, Russia, Cuba, Sudan, Burma, Zimbabwe and others who used their speaking time to praise Vietnam’s human rights record, or invoke Vietnam’s “historic specificities” to justify its restrictions of political and civil rights. In the UPR report, they recommended that Vietnam “share its best practices” on human rights protection with fellow member states. “Vietnam’s UPR review raises serious concerns, not only about Vietnam’s performance, but about the UPR process as a whole”, said Vo Van Ai. “For example, NGO input, which is supposedly an essential element of the UPR, was conspicuously absent from the process”. Issues raised in the NGO “stakeholders report” compiled by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights were not addressed during the review unless they were specifically taken up by states, he said, nor were they mentioned in the final report. Moreover, Vietnam’s country report was prepared without any consultation with independent civil society, only “mass organizations” such as the Vietnam Fatherland Front, controlled by the Communist Party of Vietnam. “The aim of the UPR as a state-driven process is to advance human rights among member states through constructive dialogue and cooperation”, said Mr. Ai. “This may be effective for states that already have a democratic process. But for non-democratic countries such as Vietnam, the UPR is a failure. Instead of engaging Vietnam to make concrete reforms, it has given a “cover” of impunity to the Hanoi regime”.   more »

English & French versions Versions anglaise & française **************************************************************** Vietnam Committee on Human Rights Que Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam BP 60063 - 94472 Boissy Saint Léger cedex - France Tel: +33 1 45 98 30 85 - Fax: +33 1 45 98 32 61 E-mail: queme@free.fr - Web: http://www.queme.net **************************************************************** For immediate release Geneva, 8 May 2009 Vietnam Committee urges U.N. members to raise urgent human rights concerns at the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review on Vietnam GENEVA, 8 May 2009 (VIETNAM COMMITTEE) - The Socialist Republic of Vietnam will be examined by the United Nations Human Rights Council for its first Universal Periodic Review (UPR) today. The review, which is based on information from three reports – Vietnam’s country report, a compilation of information from UN treaty bodies and Special Rapporteurs, and a “stakeholders’ report” of concerns raised by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), consists of an 3-hour interactive discussion in which all UN members may pose questions and make recommendations on specific measures to advance human rights in Vietnam. “The UPR process presents a unique opportunity to engage Vietnam in a constructive critical dialogue on its human rights record”, said Mr. Vo Van Ai, President of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights, who submitted a Joint report on the UPR with the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH). “However, we are concerned that Vietnam is attempting to subvert this process to obtain a “license for impunity” and mask its gross human rights abuses”. Vietnam specifically requested states from the Asian group to make “complimentary speeches” at the UPR, he said, as well as fellow members of the “Axis of Sovereignty”, a group of 19 states including China, Russia, Cuba, North Korea, Burma, Egypt, Algeria, Iran, Sudan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. This group makes up only 10% of UN members, but wields significant influence because of its membership and regional power. It routinely seeks to protect its members by swamping the UPR debate with praises, as it did for China in February 2009. Vietnam also seeks to stifle all criticism in the run-up to the UPR. When Mr. Vo Van Ai took the floor at the Human Rights Council in March 2009 to report recent human rights abuses, the Vietnamese Ambassador wrote to the Council demanding that he “never be allowed to speak at the Human Rights Council again”. “Vietnam is not accustomed to dialogue. Just as it suppresses peaceful dissent at home, it tries to muzzle free expression internationally, even at the United Nations”, said Mr. Ai. Vietnam’s country report to the UPR also reveals serious shortcomings, lack of transparency, and grave misrepresentations of human rights practices and policies. For example, Vietnam claims that: a) its report was prepared “through a broad consultation process at the national level” in accordance with UN Resolution 5/1 (18.6.2007). In fact, there was no consultation with civil society. All 14 organizations quoted as having contributed to the report are “mass organizations” controlled by the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) and the Vietnam Fatherland Front; b) it has amended domestic laws to ensure implementation of core human rights treaties that Vietnam has ratified, notably the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This is not true. Vietnam’s Constitution, Penal Code, Press and Publications Laws, Ordinance on Religions etc. all contain provisions that completely nullify the rights enshrined in these treaties. Most prohibitive are the vaguely defined “national security” crimes in Vietnam’s Penal Code, seven of which carry the death penalty. Today, hundreds of human rights defenders and civil society activists are detained under these laws, which make no distinction between violent crimes and acts of peaceful expression. “In Vietnam today, planting a bomb or sending an E-mail abroad carries the same punishment”, deplored Vo Van Ai; c) that all citizens enjoy human rights and protection by law. This is wrong. Vietnam’s citizens live in a “legal limbo” due to practices of administrative detention, probationary detention, unlimited pre-trial custody and house arrest on “oral orders” by Police. Under Ordinance 44, dissidents may be detained under house arrest or in psychiatric institutions for 2 years without trial. Buddhist monk Thich Quang Do, leader of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), is in his 27th year of detention simply for non-violent advocacy of religious freedom and human rights; d) that Vietnam respects the universality of human rights. This is contradicted in the report itself, which states that human rights must be linked to cultural and political specificities. This is the “Asian values” argument, used to justify Vietnam’s suppression of individual freedoms and rights; e) that Vietnam complies with UN obligations. This is far from the truth. Whilst Vietnam is a State party to several core human rights treaties, it fails to fulfil reporting requirements and refuses visits by UN Special Procedures. Five Special Rapporteurs have asked to visit Vietnam to investigate repeated allegations of human rights violations without avail, and in 1998, after the Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom’s critical report, Vietnam announced it would “never accept any individuals or organisations coming to investigate religious freedom or human rights”; f) that Vietnam respects religious freedom. Only State-sponsored religious organizations are authorized; all others are banned, their members routinely harassed or detained. In reality, Police repression, ill-treatment, discrimination against religious, political and ethnic minority groups are daily practices in Vietnam. In their Joint Submission to the UPR, the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights and the FIDH gave detailed cases of arbitrary detention, religious persecution, crack-downs on human rights defenders, censorship of the press and Internet, abuses of worker rights and the widespread use of the death penalty. It also raised grave concerns on women’s rights, such as sex-trafficking, denial of land rights and coercive birth control policies – Vietnam’s abortion rate is one of the highest in the world (see Report). The Vietnam Committee and the FIDH call on UN member states to raise these urgent concerns at the UPR Review today and recommend specific reforms for human rights protection in Vietnam, such as: - Repeal national security provisions in the Penal Code and bring domestic legislation into line with international human rights law; release all prisoners of conscience detained under national security provisions in violation of the ICCPR; - Abrogate Ordinance 44 on Administrative Detention which legalizes detention without trial; - Re-establish the legitimate status of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) and all other non-recognized religious organizations; release UBVC leader Thich Quang Do; - Cease censorship of the press, Internet and Blogs; authorize the publication of independent newspapers; release all journalists detained unjustly for legitimate professional activities; - Repeal Article 4 of the Constitution on the mastery of the Communist Party and allow the establishment of independent political parties, as well as free trade unions and independent civil society; - Improve women’s rights by enforcing anti-trafficking legislation, ceasing coercive birth control by abortion, and implementing provisions in the Land Law that ensure women’s right to land; - Cooperate with international human rights mechanisms by extending a standing invitation to the UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Religion and Belief, and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. * The Vietnam Committee on Human Rights is organizing a demonstration at the Place des Nations outside the UN from 9.00am – 3.00pm today. Vietnamese human rights defenders and religious leaders from France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Scandinavia, the USA and Australia are gathering to alert international attention to the grave on-going violations of human rights in Vietnam. Press Contact: Penelope Faulkner: + 33.6.11.89.86.81 (mobile)   more »

Cosunam and Viet Tan co-hosts press conference ahead of UPR 2009 Comité Suisse-Vietnam COSUNAM Parti pour la Réforme du Vietnam VIET TAN Thierry Oppikofer, Président Do Hoang Diem, Président www.cosunam.ch www.viettan.org Cosunam and Viet Tan co-hosts press conference ahead of the UN review of Vietnam's human rights record Ahead of Vietnam's date of review of its human rights record on May 8, 2009, leaders of Viet Tan and Cosunam will co-host a press conference on May 6 at the headquarters of Parti Radical Genevois (Geneva Radical Party) to raise human rights concerns and call for political freedom in Vietnam. Despite a constitution that guarantees its citizens "equal political, economic, cultural and social rights," Vietnam’s authoritarian one-party state maintains an unsatisfactory human rights record that falls short of compliance with the UN human rights framework. The Hanoi government consistently uses extensive legislative provisions to curtail political opposition movements, crackdown on dissent, and limit its citizens' freedoms of speech, religion, assembly and movement: A restrictive legal framework and vaguely defined criminal code enables the government to detain and convict, sometimes without trial, citizens deemed a “national security risk” under house arrest, rehabilitation camps, or mental hospitals. Hundreds of religious and political prisoners remain in harsh prison conditions. Efforts to question policies regarding human rights, religious freedoms, or matters of land dispute are dealt with a brutal hand. Dissent is muzzled and journalists are frequently punished for criticizing its leaders, as there is no independent media in Vietnam. The Vietnam Communist Party disregards the freedom of association by persisting in its efforts to repress religious freedom. Peaceful gatherings by farmers and labor rights activist to advocate for land reparations and independent trade unions have been met with a harsh crackdown and widespread imprisonment. The press conference will examine the need for human rights, political freedom, and government accountability. Who: Representatives of COSUNAM and VIET TAN When: Wednesday, May 6, 2009, 10:30 A.M. Where: Parti Radical Genevois Headquarters, Boulevard Jaques-Dalcroze 13, 1205 Genève A mechanism of the UN, the UPR is a chance to systemically review the human rights records of all UN Member States. The upcoming 5th Session, scheduled to run between May 5 - 15, will allow 10 states to respond to questions, concerns, and recommendations put forth by other UN Member States. Contact: Dr Trang Nguyen Phone number: +41 78 826 0758 ### Angelina Do Viet Tan www.viettan.org The mission of Viet Tan is to overcome dictatorship, build the foundation for a sustainable democracy, and demand justice and human rights for the Vietnamese people through nonviolent struggle based on civic participation.   more »

Amnesty International USA Group 19 members Jean Libby 1222 Fulton St. Palo Alto, CA 94301 jlibby@alum.calberkeley.org Fax: 1-650-618-8603 His Excellency Nguyen Minh Triet President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam c/o Ambassador Nguyen Tam Chien Embassy of Vietnam 1233 20th Street N.W. Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 200369 May 2, 2009 Your Excellency, I have the honor and the duty to send you 780 signatures on petitions calling on you to honor your international human rights obligations by releasing all prisoners of conscience, including the Reverend Nguyen Van Ly, who has already spent around 17 years in prison for peacefully criticizing government policies on religions and advocating for greater respect for human rights since the late 1970s. Amnesty International names him as an Individual at Risk. We have gathered these signatures on petitions in hope that you will release the prisoners of conscience in recognition of the United Nations Human Rights Council Review scheduled for May 8, 2009 in Geneva. Amnesty International states for the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review that Article 69 of the 1992 Constitution of Viet Nam affirms the right to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, but only ‘in accordance with the provisions of the law.’ These laws, often enacted after 1992, are explicitly in breach of international human rights treaties that Viet Nam has ratified. (A/HRC/WG.6/5/VNM/3 23 February2009) Our volunteers’ experience is an humbling one because of the outpouring of support for the release of prisoners of conscience in Viet Nam by our Vietnamese friends, neighbors, co-workers, and fellow citizens. We have translated the petition into Vietnamese with their appreciation and support. Please notice that a large majority of the signatures are Vietnamese. At the head of the list, a political prisoner for twenty-seven years in Viet Nam between 1961 and 1991, dissident poet Nguyen Chi Thien, has personally gathered hundreds of the names. He was rescued from imprisonment when he was near death from deliberate starvation in 1991. With sincere thanks for your attention,   more »

For immediate release Geneva, 30 April 2009 Before the United Nations in Geneva: Demonstration for Human Rights and Religious Freedom during the Universal Periodic Review of Vietnam GENEVA, 30 April 2009 (VIETNAM COMMITTEE) - The Vietnam Committee on Human Rights and Quê Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam are organizing a one-day demonstration at the Place des Nations, outside the United Nations headquarters in Geneva on 8th May 2009 from 8.00 am onwards to call for the respect of human rights and religious freedom in Vietnam. The demonstration will take place as Vietnam’s human rights record comes up for examination by the U.N. Human Rights Council under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Religious leaders, human rights defenders and representatives of Vietnamese organisations from the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Holland and Scandinavia will gather in the Place des Nations to alert international attention to the grave human rights abuses in Vietnam. Buddhist monks from the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) will conduct interfaith prayers for religious freedom together with dignitaries from the Catholic, Protestant, Hoa Hao Buddhist, Cao Dai and other religious communities, and Vietnamese and international personalities will address the gathering. “The demonstration will be the voice of civil society”, said Vo Van Ai, President of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights, an affiliate of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH). “We will raise issues that the Vietnamese government will not mention in their report, and speak out on behalf of those who have no voice in Vietnam, and who suffer repression under Vietnam’s one-Party communist state”. This is the first time Vietnam will come before the Universal Periodic Review, a mechanism which subjects all U.N. member states to a scrutiny of their human rights record every 4 years. During the review, member states can question Vietnam and make recommendations for improvements on human rights. NGOs make written submissions that are compiled into a “stakeholders report” and used to question Vietnam during the session. The Vietnam Committee on Human Rights and the FIDH made a joint submission detailing a wide range of human rights abuses, including restrictions of religious freedom, censorship of the media and Internet, arbitrary detention of human rights defenders, democracy activists, journalists and other peaceful dissidents. The report is available on the UN website, or Quê Me’s website at: http://www.queme.net/eng/doc/UPR_Vietnam_2009_English.pdf The Vietnam Committee on Human Rights and Quê Me welcomes the participation of all those concerned with human rights in Vietnam at this demonstration. Press Contact: Penelope Faulkner: + 33.6.11.89.86.81 (mobile). THÔNG CÁO BÁO CHÍ LÀM TẠI PARIS NGÀY 29.4.2009 Thông báo về cuộc Biểu tình đòi hỏi nhân quyền, dân chủ, tự do tôn giáo trước LHQ ở Genève ngày 8.5.2009 PARIS, ngày 29.4.2009 (QUÊ MẸ) - Đồng bào khắp năm châu đã nồng nhiệt đáp ứng bản Thông cáo báo chí phát hành ngày 10.4.2009 của Cơ sở Quê Mẹ : Hành động cho Dân chủ Việt Nam và Ủy ban Bảo vệ Quyền làm Người Việt Nam kêu gọi tham dự cuộc biểu tình ngày 8.5.2009 tại Place des Nations - Công trường LHQ - trước trụ sở LHQ tại Genève, vào lúc Phái đoàn Hà Nội phải phúc trình trước Hội đồng Nhân quyền LHQ ở Điện Quốc Liên về tình trạng nhân quyền tại Việt Nam cùng sự tuân thủ các Công ước LHQ mà Hà Nội đã ký kết, như Công ước Quốc tế về Các quyền Dân sự và Chính trị là một. Ủy ban Bảo vệ Quyền làm Người Việt Nam và Cơ sở Quê Mẹ : Hành động cho Dân chủ Việt Nam xin ngỏ lời thâm tạ sự hưởng ứng nồng nhiệt của Đồng bào hải ngoại, quý vị Nhân sĩ, Lãnh đạo Tôn giáo, các Đoàn thể, Đảng phái, Cộng đồng Người Việt Tự do ở hải ngoại, cùng các cơ quan truyền thông, báo chí đã hưởng ứng tham gia qua điện thoại gọi về trụ sở của chúng tôi tại Paris hay qua điện thư E.mail quyết tâm biểu dương ý chí đấu tranh cho nhân quyền, dân chủ và tự do tôn giáo trên quê hương đất Việt, không để cho Phái đoàn Hà Nội tiếp tục dối gạt Hội đồng Nhân quyền LHQ và công luận thế giới như Hà Nội vẫn làm thường năm tại Genève.   more »