"Goodwin, Ryan"
<Ryan.Goodwin@mail.house.gov> wrote:
Subject: RELEASE: Smith Blasts
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:39:18 -0500
From: "Goodwin, Ryan" <Ryan.Goodwin@mail.house.gov>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ryan Goodwin
(202) 225-3765
November 27, 2007
Smith
Blasts
Release
Pro-Democracy Activists
Calls for Immediate
Release of Political Prisoners and
Passage of
Smith-authored
WASHINGTON– “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.
Smith added, “Some of the finest human
rights activists are persecuted by the Government of
Smith’s comments were in response to today’s
reports that the Supreme Appeals Court in
“The U.S. government must take a stand against
these repeated abuses and let the Vietnamese Government know that continued
human rights violations will not go unnoticed or unpunished,” said Smith, author of
legislation promoting human rights in Vietnam.
On September 18, 2007, by a resounding vote of
414-3, the U.S. House of Representatives forcefully condemned human rights
abuses in Vietnam and approved the “Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007” to
sanction the Vietnamese Government until real progress is made on the release
of political prisoners and other fundamental human rights reforms take place.
“Today’s deplorable events reiterate the need
to immediately bar
Specifically, Smith’s bill, H.R. 3096,
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, respecting the right to freedom of religion, returning properties,
allowing free and open access to refugee programs, respecting the human rights
of members of all ethnic minority groups, and taking appropriate steps to end
trafficking in persons.
Additionally, Smith’s bill authorizes $4 million
over two years for organizations and individuals that promote human rights in
Vietnam, authorizes over $10 million to help stop the Vietnamese Government’s
jamming of Radio Free Asia, and requires the State Department to issue an
annual report on the progress of human rights reform in Vietnam.
The “Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007”
does not restrict any humanitarian assistance to the people of
Vietnam—including assistance to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS—in any way.
Smith introduced bills similar to the “Vietnam
Human Rights Act of 2007” in the 107th Congress (H.R. 2833) and 108th Congress
(H.R. 1587) and both times they passed the House, but were never taken up in
Senate.
Smith called on his colleagues in the Senate not
to let this year’s bill meet the same fate.
“On behalf of those who are risking their
freedom and their lives in Vietnam to obtain democracy for their fellow
citizens and their country, I would plead with my distinguished colleagues in
the Senate not to allow economic or other interests to obstruct these measures
that will assist them in their efforts,” Smith said.
Earlier this year, the House also nearly
unanimously passed a Smith-authored resolution (H Res 243) calling on the
Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to unconditionally release
political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, including Nguyen Van Dai and
Le Thi Cong Nhan.
###
Ryan Goodwin
Communications Director &
Legislative Assistant
Congressman Christopher H. Smith
2373
Phone: 202-225-3765
Fax: 202-225-7768
For the latest news on Rep. Smith,
please visit www.house.gov/chrissmith
