II- Thus, Bloc 8406 affirms that: 1- Demands for the rights to freedoms such as religious freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, freedom to nominate and elect, and freedom to criticize the wrongdoings and the crimes of the Communist Party and the Communist Government (these are the exact actions of the abovementioned dissidents which resulted in their persecution by the brutal totalitarian regime) are completely appropriate, and are not crimes, but instead are praiseworthy; are not terrorism, but rather are contributions to the Vietnamese people and to building the Vietnamese nation. 4- the VCG to please have the courage to hold a REFERENDUM on which political system the Vietnamese people choose: single-party or multi-party system, democratic capitalism or socialism, a governing body elected by the people or imposed upon them by the party. Since 1945 until now, the Vietnamese people never on their free wills chose “the road to build socialism” which has been proven in reality a complete failure in all aspects: political, economic, cultural, moral, or social. 7- The governments of countries and international organizations having diplomatic relations with Vietnam, please intimately link human rights with politics, economics, trade, culture, and technology, so that your co-operation and support of Vietnam will truly benefit the nation and people of Vietnam. Otherwise, you will only assist in bolstering a brutal dictatorial regime which uses our nation and people as nothing more than chattel to be exploited for its own personal benefit. Written in Vietnam May 23, 2007 signed by three interim representatives of Bloc 8406   more »

Phó Thị trưởng David Cortese, ông thật sự muốn thực hiện những điều ông lên tiếng công khai kết án việc làm ăn buôn bán với Việt Nam hay không? Vì rằng công ty L & D ở tại thành phố Hồ chí Minh là công ty duy nhất mà bà Hon Lien hiên nay đang điều hành và bà đang tranh cử như là một “thương gia trong sạch” cho chúc vụ nghị viên khu vực 4!   more »

Vice-mayor David Cortese, are you willing to put action to your public condemnation of doing business with Vietnam? Because the L & D Enterprise in Ho Chi Minh City is the only operating business of District 4 City Council “honest businesswoman” candidate Hon Lien. Research of businesses claimed to be owned by Hon Lien by Jean Libby.   more »

Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the EU on the sentencing of human rights defenders in Viet Nam The EU has noted with great concern that several peaceful human rights defenders have been arrested and given long prison sentences on charges of "conducting propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam". On 30 March, Father Nguyen Van Ly, Nguyen Phong and Nguyen Binh Thanh were sentenced to 8, 6 and 5 years’ imprisonment respectively by the People's Court of Thua Thien Hue Province. On 10 May, Nguyen Bac Truyen, Huynh Nguyen Dao and Le Nguyen Sang were sentenced to 3, 4 and 5 years’ imprisonment respectively by the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City. On 11 May the People's Court of Hanoi sentenced lawyers Nguyen Van Dai to 5 years’ imprisonment plus 4 years’ "administrative probation" (house arrest) and Le Thi Cong Nhan to 4 years’ imprisonment plus 3 years’ “adminsitrative probation”. On 15 May, Tran Quoc Hien was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and 2 years “administrative probation” by the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City.   more »

Following the consultation meetings held with the Vietnamese communities in Toronto and Montreal last month, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration of Canada today announced at a meeting with the representatives of the Vietnamese Canadian Federation a plan to facilitate immigration to Canada of Vietnamese living in the Philippines. Outlining how Humanitarian and Compassionate consideration can be utilized by this group to apply for permanent residence in Canada, the plan involves a mechanism through which people who do not meet the criteria of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act can apply for permanent residence. An immigration officer will assess the application and decide, on a case by case basis, if it merits an exemption from the requirements of the Act and the Regulations.   more »

The Vietnam News Agency announced on April 28 that it has the publication rights to Larry Berman's book Perfect Spy, about PhamXuanAn, in Vietnamese. What does this mean to Vietnamese in America? It means that the questions about PXA as a double agent will be swept under the rug. No questions allowed--if the Communists publish it, he must have been a true Communist agent. Good move for the Communists. It also means that Berman's very cogent analysis of Henry Kissinger's betrayal of South Vietnam at the Paris Peace Accords has more legitimacy. (see pages 196-200 for this.) Another good move. Bad America. Or is it a good move if you follow the logic? Larry Berman has shown that the invasion of South Vietnam was indeed in violation of the Paris Peace Accords. The statements of the Communist regime that reunification and independence desired by the Vietnamese people were through Communism are false.   more »

A Perfect Spy -- For Which Side? Bui Van Phu Perfect Spy: the incredible double life of Pham Xuan An, Time magazine reporter & Vietnamese communist agent. Larry Berman. 328 pages. New York: HarperCollins, 2007. $25.95 ($21 on Internet Bookselling) * Causes for the U.S. defeat in Vietnam are many. Lacking strategic intelligence was one. Meanwhile, communist agents were able to infiltrate all levels of the U.S. military's commands and of the Saigon government. Pham Xuan An was a journalist for Time magazine, who had close contacts with important people in South Vietnam's political and military arena, and with American reporters. No one believed An worked for Hanoi until he was promoted to the rank of general after North Vietnam took over the South in 1975. Review by writer Bui Van Phu, linked to Vietnamese review on Talawas.   more »

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey: Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Vietnam has long been known as a major violator of human rights. The U.S. House of Representatives went on record in the 109th Congress condemning and deploring the violations of human rights in Vietnam and strongly urging the Vietnamese Government to consider the implications of its human rights abuses for the broader relationship between the United States and Vietnam. I point out parenthetically that the House almost a year ago to the day passed a resolution that I sponsored similar to this one, H. Con. Res. 320, on April 6, 2006. There was some initial improvement. Regrettably, there has been a snapback to its original and even worsened situation when it comes to human rights observance. That is why I have sponsored H. Res. 243--calling on Vietnam to immediately and unconditionally release Fr. Ly, Mr. Dai, Mrs. Whan and other political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Department of State in its ``Country Reports on Human Rights Practices'' notes that the human rights record in Vietnam remains ``unsatisfactory,'' and that government officials continued ``to commit serious abuses.'' The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom stated in its 2006 annual report that Vietnam ``continues to commit systematic and egregious violations of freedom of religion and belief.'' However, in November 2006, pursuant to a boatload of assurances and solemn promises that the human rights situation would improve dramatically, Vietnam became the first country to be removed from the list of Countries of Particular Concern, so designated pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act. Late last year, the U.S. Congress agreed to Vietnam becoming an official member of the World Trade Organization, and a group of Asian countries at the United Nations has nominated Vietnam as the sole regional candidate for a nonpermanent seat on the U.S. Security Council.   more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to a recent, well-orchestrated campaign of political suppression and intimidation by the Government of Vietnam, the U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed a resolution authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) that calls for an immediate release of all political prisoners and substantial human rights reforms in Vietnam. “H. Res. 243 is intended to send a critical and timely message to the Vietnamese Government that these serious violations of basic human rights are unacceptable and bring profound dishonor on the government of Vietnam. These human rights violations cannot be overlooked or continue without equally serious consequences,” Smith said yesterday on floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith’s resolution (H.Res. 243) calls on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to immediately and unconditionally release political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, including Father Nguyen Van Ly and those who have been arrested in a recent wave of government oppression. The resolution also calls for the Government of Vietnam to comply with internationally recognized standards for basic freedoms and human rights. H.Res. 243 passed the House by a vote of 404-0, with 3 members voting present.   more »

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Ngai, a prominent physician in San Jose, California, and a key member of the Democratic Party of Vietnam XXI, was delighted to learn today that his tireless efforts to have Vietnam placed back on the list of those countries abusing human rights and religious freedom is paying off. After monthly trips to Washington, D.C. over the past year to meet with top officials at the State Department and leaders of the U.S. House and Senate, along with major national and international research organizations, Dr. Nguyen learned today that the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended that Vietnam be put back on the U.S. government list of countries accused of denying citizens the freedom to practice their religion. For more than a year, Dr. Nguyen urged the U.S. government not to be deceived by a disingenuous public relations campaign by Vietnam to gain PNTR status and acceptance into the WTO. In anticipation of President Bush attending the APEC meetings in Hanoi on November 18 & 19, 2006, there is no doubt that the government of Vietnam was on their best behavior. Vietnam was rewarded by being removed from the CPC list and approved for Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) in December, 2006, which led to their entry into the World Trade Organization in January, 2007. This afforded Vietnam improved trade relations with numerous countries, including the U.S. According to Dr. Nguyen, “In essence, the government of Vietnam received everything they wanted by the end of January, 2007 and is now reverting to their former methods of repression and abuse.”   more »