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 »