Testimony of Do, Thanh Cong on Human Rights In Vietnam

Spokesman of The People’s Democratic Party
November 6, 2007

House Committee on Foreign Affair’s

Subcommittee on International Organizations,

Human Rights and Oversight

 
On behalf of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I would like to thank Representatives Tom Lantos, Chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Bill Delahunt, Chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight, Congresswomen Zoe Lofgren, Loretta Sanchez and many other congressional members of the committee for giving me this opportunity to testify regarding the Human Rights situation in Vietnam.

As a Vietnamese-American who has fought peacefully for human rights and democracy in Vietnam. I was held 38 days in jail last fall 2006 for reasons regarding these activities. Without the support of US Congressional members,  Zoe Lofgren and Loretta Sanchez, Senators Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein and the Governor of California, the Vietnamese communities around the world, my family and many others. I would not be able to testify today. I have done nothing wrong but to promote and defend the values that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly declares “as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society”.

The Hanoi authorities however refuse to recognize these basic human rights. The President, Prime Minister and Vice-Minister of Security of Vietnam continue to publicly deny that there are political prisoners in Vietnam, calling them criminals instead. Since last year, Vietnamese authorities have sentenced nine prominent political prisoners to a total of more than 40 years in jail for alleged “crimes against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” and imprisoned sixteen democracy activists without trial yet. Many of them are religious leaders, lawyers, doctor and writers. These individuals have committed no crimes; they have merely exercised their freedoms of speech by peaceful means.  However, the Vietnam Communist Party has ignored these basic human rights; They continue to crack down by issuing harsh sentences and arbitrary detentions in order to silence them. This year, Human Rights Watch reported that “Despite having one of Asia’s highest growth rates, Vietnam’s respect for fundamental human rights continues to lag behind many other countries, and the one-party state remains intolerant of criticism. Hundreds of political and religious prisoners remain behind bars in harsh conditions.”

On July 19, 2007, in Sai Gon hundreds of protested farmers who had lost their lands due to corrupt government officials were brutally beaten and violently suppressed. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren wrote a letter of protest but Hanoi Ambassador in Washington D.C. flatly denied. Today, I provide list of 51 witnesses with written testimonies, photos and evidence that which shows how badly this government has violated their rights. Recently the state media has started campaign to publicly slander the religious leaders, human rights organizations, democratic activists and myself as well as those who have raised their voices to support the protesting farmers. Even as it has been accepted to the World Trade Organizations (WTO) and non-permanent member of United Nations security, Vietnam still continues its violations of human rights and fails to live up to the world community’s standards.
 
We call on Vietnam’s government to immediately act on several urgent requests:

- To release the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members, currently being held in jail: namely Dr. Le Nguyen Sang, lawyer Nguyen Bac Truyen and journalist Huynh Nguyen Dao,

- To release leading members of the United Workers Farmers Organization of Vietnam (UWFO) including Mr. Nguyen Tan Hoanh aka Doan Huy Chuong, Ms. Tran Thi Le Hang, Mr. Doan Van Dien, Mr. Phung Quang Huyen and lawyer Tran Quoc Hien,

- To release founding members of the Vietnam Progression Party: Mr. Nguyen Phong,  Nguyen Binh Thanh and lawyer Le Thi Cong Nhan,

- To release Father Nguyen Van Ly, human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai, cyber-dissidents Nguyen Ngoc Quang, Vu Hoang Hai, Pham Ba Hai, Truong Quoc Huy, Truong Minh Nguyet, Le Tri Tue, writer Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, farmers Ho Thi Bich Khuong and Ngo Luot etc., who have been imprisoned solely for having publicly supported democracy or fought for basic human rights,

 
- To stop using  terrorizing tactics against Vietnamese dissidents and innocent peoples. For example, on August 31, 2007, Mr. Nguyen Khac Toan, a prominent dissident, on September 30, 2007 Father Phan Van Loi, leader of 8406 Block, on August 22, 2007 Rev. Thich Minh Nguyet, all were tried through "public interrogation", an uncivilized court in which “plain-clothes police and official governments disguised as civilians publicly accuse and humiliate activists”. On October 10, 2007 Mr. Vi Duc Hoi, a Communist Party member turned democratic activist was stripped off his party membership. His family has since been constantly terrorized by Ha Noi security. Mr. Nguyen Ba Dang, another dissident, released after held 4 months in jail still suffers from daily police harassment. Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh and his members were badly beaten due to their Christian practices. In fact, on October 2007 a Christian named Siu Blok died from torture by Vietnamese authorities. Hanoi authorities continue their employment of hired thugs to beat protesting farmers and dissident such as cases of Mrs. Luu Thi Thu Trang, Luu Thi Thu Duyen and Nguyen Phuong Anh. These terror practices aim at breaking down and dehumanizing individuals through public humiliation and intimidation,

- To revise the constitution, particularly Article 4 which guarantees the monopoly of the Communist party over the political culture of Vietnam; to accept open and direct dialogues with opposing political groups; to respect freedom of speech, freedom of press and fair multi-party elections.
 

We ask the Ha Noi government to release all Vietnamese political prisoners and end arbitrary detentions. The PDP has collected more than four thousands signatures (4,000) through the internet and published letters to support our call. Until Vietnam complies with international standards, these violations of human rights and abuse religious practices cannot be ignored. We call on all US Congressional members to ask the US government to put Viet Nam back on the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) and support the Human Rights Act HR 3096 until the government of Vietnam demonstrates that they are capable of significantly improvements in the religious and human rights situations.  
 
Sincerely,
Do, Thanh Cong

Spokesman of the People’s Democratic Party