A full description is found at: http://www.vietvungvinh.com/Portal.asp?goto=VietNam/2007/20070830_08.htm The graffiti means to ask the communist party to abolish article 4 in Viet Nam's constitution where its state that "only the VN communist party rules the country, no other party has legitimate right to challenge with them". Therefore, any party forms within Viet Nam will consider as illegal, giving the communist power to suppress. Thank you, People's Democratic Party for sending the photograph and explanation. The next article is from Women for Human Rights in Vietnam. Hanoi, August 30, 2007 � In an effort to learn more about the condition of democracy and human rights in Vietnam, Mr. Michael Orona, Deputy Director of the Office of Asia and Western Hemisphere Affairs of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the US State Department, had scheduled to meet with pro-democracy activists in Hanoi. The meeting, arranged by Women for Human Rights in Vietnam , had been scheduled to take place at the office of Mr. Nguyen Phuong Anh in Hanoi at 3 PM on August 30, 2007. Mr. Orona, supposedly was to meet with fifteen pro-democracy activists including Mr. Pham Van Troi, Mr. Vu Hung, Mr. Pham Duc Chinh, Mr. Do Duy Thong� However, the Hanoi regime attempted to prevent this meeting by holding a number of these activists against their will at police stations in their local provinces, preventing them from traveling to Hanoi to meet with Mr. Orona.   more »

We the undersigned are the interim representatives of Bloc 8406, who represent tens of thousands of those who have signed the Manifesto on Freedom & Democracy for Vietnam, released on April 8, 2006, to openly confront the Communist dictatorship in a non-violent struggle for a democratic, free, and pluralistic Vietnam....We also know that you have met on August 10 a number of our compatriots in Washington, D.C. You indicated at this meeting that when you assume your position in Vietnam, you shall focus your attention on the issues of human rights, economic development, as well as education in Vietnam. We believe that these are the real issues currently facing our country. They are inter-related since there is a serious lack of respect for human rights and the Vietnamese people have lost all freedoms and are thereby unable to contribute fully to the economic development of the country. This, in turn, results in a stagnated and backward education system. Signed by four interim representatives of Bloc 8406 on August 16, 2007.    more »

Vanessa Hua of the San Francisco Chronicle has received the AAJA print journalism award for a story on cyber-dissident Cong Do, an American citizen and San Jose resident who was imprisoned in Vietnam in 2006. The December 10, 2006 story of his arrest, imprisonment, and rescue through the efforts of his family who quit school and jobs to mobilize support from the larger community, including Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is excerpted and linked.   more »

Intellasia has been very an active promoter of investing in Vietnam for many years now. But unfortunately today August 17 Intellasia is under official attack. In many online newspapers belonging to the state, there are many long articles alleging the Intellasia website is 'illegal' and has 'reactionary' content. These articles follow six weeks of harassment and interrogation of the proprietors and staff here at Intellasia. The articles state that the owner of the website 'illegally operates a website without a license'. This is despite the fact that the proprietor had categorically shown evidence that the website is owned and operated by two Australians—one in Vietnam and the other in Australia. +++ A recall initiative for Councilwoman Madison Nguyen is under way after she limited the right of people to speak on the matter of the entry portal designation of the Story Road entrance into San Jose, stating that the term Vietnamese Business District was FREE SPEECH. I don't know very much about Vietnam or the Vietnamese Community. But I do know Santa Clara County, where I have lived for more than 40 years as an adult. (San Jose is our capital.) I know that using the term 'free speech" to cover up a land grab by businesses with allegiance to a foreign government (Vietnam) is demagoguery.* Jean Libby, editor VietAm Review    more »

What does Chinese products and business mean today? Lead paint in toys manufactured by slave labor; poison fish put on the market without health regulations for harvest. What does Vietnamese products and business mean today? American Vietnamese lured to "doi moi" finding themselves in jail because their Vietnamese "partners" have found it more lucrative to fleece them than sell honest goods. (see "How Vietnam Venture Proved a Costly Move" for Hoan Nguyen, an American citizen now in the B-14 prison in northern Vietnam in the Wall Street Journal online, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118702662210596089.html?mod=googlenews_wsj The City of San Jose is considering naming one of its entry corridors (Story Road) the Vietnamese Business District. Many immigrants from Communist Vietnam would rather see it named Little Saigon Business District. There is a public hearing on the matter from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at the Tully branch library, 880 Tully Road, San Jose.   more »

Statements of U.S. Ambassador Michael Marine in leaving office in Vietnam have been reported quite differently by the Associated Press and the Communist-controlled media known as Vietnambridge. Disappointment and disapproval of the regime for jailing political activists by Ambassador Marine characterizes the AP report; chirping congratulations to Vietnam for achieving PTNR status with the US and the visits between presidents Triet and Bush are the subjects of Vietnamnet.   more »

Associated Press reports that Ambassador Michael Marine, in leaving office after a three-year appointment, expressed disappointment at the poor human rights record of Vietnam. "I wish I could say that it's improving, but I can't," he told reporters. "It's perhaps my biggest disappointment." Vietnam's government does not tolerate any form of dissent. Hanoi maintains that only lawbreakers are jailed and that no one is punished for their political or religious beliefs. In remarks clearly referencing the breakup of the demonstrations in Saigon on July 18, he said: "There are laws on the books that allow the authorities to move against people for expressing their opinions, organizing in any way or calling for political change," Marine said. "Those are fundamental human rights that I strongly believe are universal and should be enjoyed by the people of Vietnam." full story (copyrighted work) http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2007-08/09/content_6019882.htm ******************************************************************** Best wishes on your retirement, Ambassador Marine. You have endured the burden of statesmanship with patience and dignity. It is clear from this side that you have deep concern for the rights and safety of Vietnamese citizens from actions of their government. Welcome home. Jean Libby, editor VietAm Review   more »

A community meeting in San Jose with a representative of the Vietnam Progression Party will take place at the branch library, 880 Tully Road, San Jose CA 95111 Monday, August 13, at 6:30 p.m.   more »

Dear Congresswoman Lofgren, We have been highly impressed and profoundly appreciated your prompt generous and humanitarian assistance to our unfortunate repressed Vietnamese inside and outside Vietnam for many years. The protesters in Vietnam include millions of oppressed people who have been confiscated (simply robbed off) their legitimate personal properties including their land, houses, religious and constitutional rights. We expect there will be many additional protests in very near future throughout Vietnam . Please be informed that the so-called Vietnamese government has never been freely elected by Vietnamese People... Vincent Viet Si Catholic Diocese of San Jose Spokesman International Movement for Democracy and Human Rights in Vietnam San Jose, California Email: Vietsi2002@yahoo.com Excerpts from the Vietnam Constitution passed in 1992 are included.   more »

Thank you Tieng Dan Weekly for the attached copy of the response from Nguyen Tam Chien of the VN Embassy to a letter from Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D - San Jose) regarding the recent demonstration and arrests in Saigon. The letter is particularly odious and deceptive, saying that the issue is not human rights but "land disputes" as "stated by sources unfriendly to Vietnam." The letter, dated August 1, 2007, was authorized by VN President Nguyen Minh Triet. Congresswoman Lofgren is fighting hard and well to insure the rights of small groups of immigrants and their children to the USA as well as speaking out for human rights in Vietnam. Her battle with showboating Republicans who are appealing to ethnic prejudice with "immigration backlash" as chair of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee is front-page news in the San Francisco Chronicle today. Also in Congress yesterday, Representative Tom Lantos (D - San Mateo), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has opened an inquiry into the conduct of Yahoo when it turned over information to Chinese officials about the pro-democracy journalist Shi Tao. A human rights group has recently published the search warrant presented by China to Yahoo to gain information and it is clear to Congressman Lantos that Yahoo should be investigated for misrepresenting their role in the jailing of Mr. Shi Tao. Jean Libby, editor, VietAm Review.   more »

WASHINGTON-The House Foreign Affairs Committee today approved > legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to promote > human rights reform in Vietnam and hold the Vietnamese Government > accountable for further human rights abuses. > > "After the Vietnamese Government was feted as moving in a > new direction, they immediately searched out some of the best, > brightest and bravest of Vietnam-men and women who have spoken out on behalf of human rights-and threw them into prison. This brutal > crackdown is unconscionable. This legislation puts the Vietnamese > Government on notice that the path of human rights abuses at least > carries some penalties," Smith said during debate in the Committee. >Smith's bill, the "Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007" (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, towards > 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. > > "Last year, a human rights declaration was signed by many of the > leading human rights advocates in Vietnam. It is filled with > humanitarian and human rights hopes and aspirations for that > country-all pegged to non-violent methods stating clearly that > reform has to be achieved through democratic means. That list has > become the roster used by the Vietnamese Government to track down and incarcerate one political prisoner after another," Smith told > his Committee colleagues. > > Earlier this year, the parish house of Father Ly-a former prisoner > of conscience who spent over 13 years in prison-was raided. Father > Ly was moved to a remote location and placed under house arrest. > Father Ly is an advisor to "Block 8406"-a democracy movement which > started on April 8, 2006, hence the name 8406-and a new political > party, the Vietnam Progression Party.   more »