Hoa Thịnh Đốn-VNN) Nhân chuyến đi viếng thăm Việt Nam sắp tới đây của Thứ Trưởng Ngoại Giao Mỹ Negroponte, ông John E. Carey, một ký giả cổ võ cho Tự do ngôn luận thuộc nhóm Hòa Bình & Tự Do, hôm 13-1 đã có một bài viết nói rằng "Thứ Trưởng Ngoại Giao Mỹ Negroponte cần phải áp lực CSVN để trả tự do cho tối thiểu một người tù lương tâm." Đó là nữ Luật sư Lê Thị Công Nhân.   more »

In conclusion I would like to offer the following recommendations: (1) Our State Department should set concrete benchmarks to assess Vietnam’s commitment to religious freedom, such as: a) Recognition of all 671 ECVN congregations in the Northwestern Highlands; b) Timely processing of all applications for recognition or registration according to the Ordinance and Decree; and c) Release of all “individuals of concern” from prison or “temple” arrest. Our State Department should consider placing Vietnam on the CPC list if these benchmarks are not met. (2) Our Embassy in Ha Noi should maintain an up-to-date list of persecuted Khmer Krom Buddhists, Hoa Hoa Buddhists, Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam leaders, Catholic priests, and Protestant house church members; and convene regular meetings with leaders of the persecuted Churches so as to monitor the true conditions of religious freedom. (3) Congress should authorize and appropriate funding to build capacity for independent Churches in Vietnam to defend their rights under the new legal framework. Posted on Tuesday, January 15 @ 13:33:11 EST by ngochuynh   more »