"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
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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
http://vietamreview.blogharbor.com
UPDATE August 20, 2007
|
May I also call your attention to a blog
called Vietnamica which has excellent articles under his writing
name Patrick Tan often also published in online journals. Here is a
link to today's article, which continues the story of the American Embassy in http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=649&Itemid=31 Upon leaving office last week, the former
Ambassador Michael Marine spoke strongly of his disappointment on human rights
by the VN government. I have made a permanent link to Vietnamica on
the Vietnamese American Achievement blog, VietAm Review, and encourage all to
check it regularly as a resource in both English and Vietnamese articles. |
