> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> Contact: Patrick Creamer (202) 225-3765
> July 31, 2007
>
>
> Foreign Affairs Committee Approves Smith Bill Promoting Human
> Rights Reform in Vietnam
> Bill gives authority for sanctions if abuses continue
>
> 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
> 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.
>
> On March 30th, Father Ly was sentenced to 8 years in prison for
> distributing "anti-government" materials.
>
> Father Ly was among a number of dissidents swept up in a recent
> crackdown in
> "Block 8406," principal spokesperson for the Vietnam Progression
> Party and the founder of the Vietnamese Labor Movement, Le Thi Cong
> Nhan. On the same day-March 6, 2007-Vietnamese police arrested one
> of
>
> "The Vietnamese Government's recent crackdown-which truly is a
> snapback to their previous patterns-is an absolute outrage and
> should not be met with indifference by the international
> community," said Smith, who authored a resolution, which passed the
> House earlier this year, that insists the Vietnamese Government
> immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners and
> prisoners of conscience who have been arrested in a recent wave of
> government oppression.
>
> Additionally, Smith's bill authorizes $4 million over two
> years for organizations and individuals that promote human rights
> in
> Vietnamese Government's jamming of Radio Free Asia.
>
> "The jamming of Radio Free Asia is a very inhospitable and
> deleterious act on the part of the Vietnamese Government which
> clearly intends to stifle democracy progress and free thought,"
> said Smith.
>
> Smith's bill also requires the State Department to issue an
> annual report on the progress of human rights reform in
>
> Similar bills introduced by Smith in the 107th Congress
> (H.R. 2833) and 108th Congress (H.R. 1587) passed the House, but
> were never taken up in Senate.
>
> ###
>
>
> Patrick J. Creamer
>
> Communications Director
>
> Office of Congressman Christopher Smith (NJ-04)
> 2373 Rayburn House Office Building
> Washington, D.C. 20515
> Phone: (202) 225-3765
> Fax: (202) 225-7768
>
> For the latest news on Rep. Smith,
> please visit www.house.gov/chrissmith
>
>
Andrew Lam
Editor
New America Media
275 9th street, 3rd floor
San Francisco, Ca 94103
415-503-4170 work
415-503-0970 fax
www.newamericamedia.org
Thank you for the Human Rights in
Jean Libby, editor
VietAm Review
http://vietamreview.blogharbor.com
