The People’s Democratic Party – Feb. 26, 2008: We would like to make available this top-secret directive from the Hanoi Politburo/Central Committee of the Vietnam Communist Party detailing the “treatment of political trials” to various people and democratic organizations, both in and outside of Vietnam . The official communique came from The Central Committee of the Vietnam Communist Party, signed by a high-ranking political cadre named Truong Tan Sang, with limited circulation among the political infrastructure and high echelon members. This is a secret document and was recalled after circulation. So far, a number of top-level political cadres in the Vietnam Communist Party such as President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, have always maintained in the international press that Vietnam does not persecute or imprison political prisoners. If that is the case, we don’t know what to make of political prisoners in Vietnam such as Father Nguyen Van Ly, lawyers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan, Nguyen Bac Truyen, Tran Quoc Hien, Doctor Le Nguyen Sang, reporter Huynh Nguyen Dao, Nguyen Phong, Doan van Dien, Tran Thi Le Hong, Doan Huy Chuong also known as Nguyen Tan Hoanh, etc… This document therefore would put to rest with the public at large that the persecution and prison sentences of the dissidents are indeed “political trials” and that the Vietnamese Communist Party “absolutely cannot permit the opposing political parties to organize” in Vietnam. Regards, Tran Nam, Spokesperson for the People's Democratic Party NOTICE Conclusion of the Political Party Concerning raising the bar of quality and effectiveness in the execution of the political trials in the face of new development. In the meeting of August 16, 2007, after hearing the report of the law enforcement agencies regarding the situation and results of the disposition of the recent political trials, the Central Committee has discussed and has come up with the following assessment: Recently, the disposition of these political trials have achieved some degree of success, with the intent to make example of or to teach a lesson, to effectively prevent the contrarian political activities of the enemy forces while they are still in the embryonic stages, not allowing them from publicly establishing themselves in the country to organize violent insurrection, in order to overthrow the rule of the people. So we need to fortify the security measures for our political stability and peaceful order in society, to protect the rule of socialism, to resolutely contribute to the economic and societal development, to build a political system and promote the strength of the whole solidarity bloc of our nation populace, to ensure the perpetuation and stability of socialism. Our teams of cadres and soldiers who specialize in the ad-hoc task forces have made efforts in the execution of the political trials and to show steadfast loyalty to the Fatherland, to uphold their political integrity, possessing a high sense of duty, completing their responsibility and assignment given to them. On behalf of the Politburo Members of the Central Committee Signed and Sealed Truong Tan Sang Recipients: - Provincial and Municipal Committees - Technocrat committee, party associations, party committees under direct rule central committee - Comrades committee members of the Ruling Central Committee - Copied to the Central Committee   more »

Houston (TX), Feb. 24, 2008 (VPP) — Freelance Journalist Truong Minh Duc has been experiencing hardships with his broken arm and illness because of improper treatments. According to information obtained by his family members in mid-February, Mr. Duc did inform that because of the pains, he could not sleep well and his health is worsening. The lack of sleep also causes complication to his blood pressure. Therefore, Mr. Duc is demanding proper treatment for his broken arm. Journalist Truong Minh Duc was born in 1960. He is a member of Bloc 8406 as well as the Vietnam Populist Party. The Vietnam authority accused him of violating section 258th of the Criminal Law and arrested him on May 5, 2007. After a chain of interrogations at B-34 Detention Center in Hochiminh City and Kien-Giang Provincial Security Jail, the authority transferred him to Vinh Thuan District Jail Facility in Kien-Giang province awaiting a formal trial. Vietnam Populist Party (VPP) is a Vietnam based, grass root political party. VPP dedicates to promoting Democracy, Social Justice and Benefits for the Poor. For more information, please visit www.vietnampopulist.org. For Vietnamese, please visit www.hoamai.org Nguyen, CongBang (General Secretary of the VPP) congbang@dvdvn.org PO Box 842064, Houston, TX 77284 713-499-9627 (Direct)   more »

Re: To Protest the Appeal Trial’s Sentences of UWFOV’s members On the Appeal Trial in February 25, 2008, the Supreme Court in Ho Chi Minh City has sentenced members of The United Workers-Farmers Organization of Viet Nam (UWFOV) also known as members of The People's Democratic Party as followed ruling: Mr. Doan Van Dien: 4 years and 6 months of imprisonment, no sentence's reduction. Mrs. Tran Thi Le Hong (Le Hang): 3 years of imprisonment, no sentence's reduction. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet: 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment, no sentence's reduction. Mr. Doan Huy Chuong (aka Nguyen Tan Hoanh): 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment, no sentence's reduction. In addition, Mr. Phung Quang Huyen also was brought into the Appeal trial and sentenced 1 year and 6 month of imprisonment, no sentence's reduction. Without informing the UWFOV family’s members regarding the schedule of Appeal trial on February 25, 2008. Hanoi government silently brought these labor activists to trial, intentionally to cover up their unlawful tactics in order to get away from international media and public’s attentions. We strongly condemn the Appeal trial’s sentences and protest the illegal and unfair tactic of the so-called The Supreme Court. Again, Vietnam is still in violation of every basic human rights where labor activists’ rights were denied. We call on international human rights organizations to denounce these sentences as Ha Noi government continues using harsh sentence to discourage the labor activists. We call on the U.S. congressional members urgently pass the Vietnam Human Rights Act H.R. 3096 to support the democracy and human rights in Vietnam. Nam Tran, spokesperson of the People's Democratic Party Following a protest letter on January 29 from 20 Norwegian MPs to Hanoi president Nguyen Minh Triet, another Norwegian MP has offered his personal support for the Vietnamese democracy movement. Peter S. Gitmark, member of the Norwegian Storting, with the assistance of a Viet Tan member, Ms. Vo Hong, traveled through Vietnam to see democracy activists and inquire about the condition of individuals persecuted for their human rights advocacy. During the five days from February 18-22, Gitmark met in Saigon with relatives of Nguyen The Vu and Nguyen Viet Trung and in Hanoi with novelist Tran Khai Thanh Thuy and her family. In the meeting with the family of Nguyen The Vu and Nguyen Viet Trung, Mr. Gitmark listened as the relatives discussed the legal status and health of the two brothers. Mr. Gitmark stated that international opinion, especially in Norway, is focused on the case of the two men, along with that of Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan and journalist Somsak Khunmi. All four have been detained since November 17, 2007, without trial or charges, for distributing leaflets promoting democracy through open, peaceful and nonviolent means. In the meeting with Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, Mr. Gitmark heard how her entire family was harassed and intimidated before and after she was in prison. She declared that her release was not by the good will of the regime, but because of the efforts of Vietnamese living in and outside the country, and the international community. The constant pressure from all sides on the Hanoi government led to the successful outcome. Peter Gitmark expressed admiration for the courage of Vietnamese democracy activists. With this trip, he wanted to further remind the Hanoi regime of the international community's concern for human rights and especially Vietnamese citizens persecuted for peaceful pro-democracy activities. Tran Khai Thanh Thuy told how touched she was to meet with parliamentarian Peter Gitmark and Vo Hong. The visit helped her stay resolute. She declared that she would maintain her efforts and not allow herself to be silenced. She would continue, along with fellow democracy activists, to work for the day Vietnam has true freedom. -- Angelina Do www.viettan.org   more »

Women for Human Rights in Vietnam earnestly calls on the United States government to temporarily suspend the Deportation (Agreement) process against Vietnamese until we may have arrived at the following satisfactory concerns: 1. Problem regarding the status of political refugees: Many people have left Vietnam for America in order to seek political asylum or reunite with their relatives who have fled from the dictatorial regime of Vietnam . If for whatever reason they are being repatriated to Vietnam , where they had fled, they would likely be placed under extremely dangerous situation for themselves and their families. Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms "Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution....". If for any reason, Vietnamese are being repatriated to where they had fled, they would certainly be persecuted. 2. The problem of resettlement for those who are being repatriated: Unlike the United States , Vietnam is a totalitarian state. The choice to resettle in a certain locality does not rest with the repatriated individual but with the Vietnamese government. With a vindictive policy and arbitrary law, there are no guarantee that the Vietnamese authority would fairly resolve the place of residence according to the needs of the repatriated persons, those who have fled Vietnam due to political reasons. 3. The problems of property rights of those who have fled Vietnam : properties of those who left Vietnam due to political reasons or reunions, are either being confiscated by Vietnamese government, or had been forced sold to the state with a depressed price. The problem is how to justly settle these issues of the deported persons when they are being forced back to their place of origin where their houses and properties had been taken. 4. The problem of respecting basic human rights: Vietnam does not respect their citizens right to voluntarily join parties, or their right to enjoy the freedom of thoughts. Among those who are being deported, there are a number of people who were activists or have joined parties, and organizations and have struggled for Freedom and Democracy in America , activities that Vietnam considers to be anti-Vietnam. How would the United States guarantee their safety and protect them from retaliation, harassment or harms? 5. The problem of Vietnam retaliation policy: Vietnam has been pursuing a policy of retaliation against those who they believe are suspect or not having favorable views of. Under this policy, not only these people who are being deported but their children and families will run into difficulties trying to integrate into Vietnam society in the future. The problems of education, social advancement, finding gainful employment, etc…will be apparent under the communist systematic bad treatment. Sincerely, Jane DoBui, Spokeswoman for Women for Human Rights in Vietnam   more »

Sài Gòn.- Ðể thuyết phục nhà văn Nguyễn Xuân Nghĩa ở nhà thay vì đi dự đám tang cụ Hoàng Minh Chính, công an CSVN đã dọa ông là sẽ tông xe cho ông chết trên đường như đã xảy đến cho cả gia đình kịch tác gia Lưu Quang Vũ 20 năm trước. Ông kể như vậy cho nhà báo Hoàng Hải. Nhà văn Nguyễn Xuân Nghĩa hiện là một trong năm thành viên điều hành của Khối 8406, một tổ chức chính trị quần chúng mà cụ Chính là một trong những thành viên sáng lập. Trong số những người bị chế độ Hà nội cấm đi dự tang lễ cụ Hoàng Minh Chính mà áp lực tệ hại nhất, có các ông Nguyễn Xuân Nghĩa, Trần Khuê. Ông Trần Khuê đã tới phi trường Tân Sơn Nhất chuẩn bị lên máy bay thì bị công an CSVN bắt “làm việc” và buộc ông quay lại nhà. Ông cương quyết không về nên bị khiêng ném lên xe trở về một trại giam rồi sau đó mới được cho về nhà. Thật ra, còn trường hợp của nữ Bác Sĩ Nguyễn Thị An Nhàn, từ San Jose, California, về Hà Nội dự tang lễ cũng bị công an CSVN cưỡng bách lên phi trường trục xuất khỏi Việt Nam đêm 15 tháng 2, 2008 sau mấy tiếng đồng hồ thẩm vấn. Bà Nhàn, bác sĩ khoa giải phẫu tim của bệnh viện Ðại Học Stanford ở Palo Alto, California, là đảng viên của Ðảng Dân Chủ Việt Nam ngay từ khi cụ Chính mới bắt đầu loan báo tái lập hồi Tháng Sáu 2006. This is news of the removal of dissidents supportive of Freedom for Vietnam at the funeral of Professor Hoang Minh Chinh on February 16. Nguyen Xuan Nghia and Tran Khue of Vietnam, and Dr. Nguyen Thi An Nguyen of San Jose, California. Linked to article in Vietnamese on Nguoi Viet News http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=74018&z=2   more »

With admiration and respect for Professor Hoang Minh Chinh, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Vietnam (DPV), as well as the Vietnamese tradition, a U.S. doctor who went to Vietnam to attend Professor Chinh's funeral was interrogated and forced out of the country. On Feb. 15, 2008 at 3 PM, one day before the funeral, the Vietnam government ordered a team of police to enter the Sheraton Hotel in Hanoi and forced Dr. Nguyen Thi An Nhan to the nearby Police station and interrogated her for more than six hours. Finally, they escorted her to the airport and demanded she leave the country that night, Feb. 15, 2008. Dr. Nguyen Thi An Nhan joined the Democratic Party of Vietnam (DPV) on June 1, 2006, when Professor Hoang Minh Chinh officially declared the reestablishment of the DPV. She also is one of the doctors who took care of Professor Hoang Minh Chinh when he was in the United States in August 2005 for cancer treatment. links to media coverage are included.   more »

PRESS RELEASE February 15, 2008 Statement by United States Ambassador Michael W. Michalak On the Death of Hoang Minh Chinh I was saddened to learn of the death of Hoang Minh Chinh and would like to express my deepest condolences to his family.Hoang Minh Chinh was a true patriot and proud Vietnamese.I had the honor of meeting him in December and was able to express my respect for his lifetime of effort on behalf of his beloved country and its people. Hoang Minh Chinh battled the cancer that eventually took his life with the same dignity and courage with which he fought for the rights of all Vietnamese.A key leader in Vietnam’s struggle for independence, he continued that struggle throughout his life to have the voices of his fellow citizens heard. It is my profound hope that his legacy will live on and bear witness to Hoang Minh Chinh's undying love and commitment to the people of Vietnam.   more »

Vietnam Populist Party (VPP) is a grass root political organization, which is mainly active in Vietnam. The VPP initially established in January 1, 2006 by pro-democracy groups in the country and abroad, based on the New Vietnam Platform. Our united network of dedicated Vietnamese compatriots committed to promote human rights, democracy and the social development of Vietnam. We also share the common ideals of how to reform Vietnam and serve its people in the future. Our immediate goal is a Free and Fair General Election in Vietnam, with the supervision of international human rights organizations, to establish a multi-party democratic political system for Vietnam. Our legitimate goal is to help building a new nation of Vietnam that offers peace, liberty, prosperity and progressives. ******************************************************** The VPP overseas office is based in Houston, Mr. CongBang Nguyen is General Secretary. They broadcast weekly in Vietnamese through the internet on Radio Hoa-Mai.   more »

Hanoi seeks to impose a political funeral for Hoang Minh Chinh and prevent UBCV monks and pro-democracy activists from attending the event   more »

While Dr. Ngai Nguyen is flying to Hanoi to be at the funeral of his famous patient Hoang Minh Chinh, here is a brief biography of the elder statesman and their relationship. It is based on interview with Dr. Nguyen Xuan Ngai in his San Jose medical office in November 2007. Additional research sources are Que Me (Penelope Faulkner, author and Vice-President of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights in Paris); from the BBC in London, February 8 2008 (Nga Pham, author); and press releases from the Democratic Party of Vietnam in Hanoi on the death of Hoang Minh Chinh February 7, 2008. Detailed chronology from these sources, beginning with Professor Hoang Minh Chinh's birth in 1922, his leadership in the Communist Party and government until 1967, when he is imprisoned for writing "Dogmatism in Vietnam" and stripped of his official duties. Professor Hoang Minh Chinh suffers three periods of imprisonment totaling thirteen years, the last being one year in 1995 when he was 73 years old. Author Jean Libby, editor of VietAm Review, is the English translation manuscript editor and author of the preface of the English language publication of the prose stories of Nguyen Chi Thien on prison conditions in Communist Vietnam, the Hoa Lo/Hanoi Hilton Stories (Yale University Southeast Asia Studies, 2007. ISBN 978-0-938692-89-8) A retired teacher of United States History and Ethnic Studies at community colleges in northern California, she is a member of Amnesty International USA Group 19 in Palo Alto.   more »

Professor Hoang Minh Chinh, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Vietnam. (DPV), after a long illness, passed away in Hanoi at 11:08 PM on 7 February 2008, the First Day of the New Year "Tet Mau Ty". Professor Hoang Minh Chinh has parted serenely, after achieving the task of senior activist for democracy. He has guided the democratic movement in Vietnam in the right direction, and in June 2006, he reactivated The Democratic Party of Vietnam (established in 1944 but later banned by the controlled government). Prior to his death, he prepared and carefully transferred all operations of the Party to the next generation that will assume his responsibilities. The Standing Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Vietnam calls upon the members of the DPV to transform the suffering loss into strength, to unite within the party and reach out to others to move forward for the ultimate goal of the democratization of Vietnam as he wished. As we grieve this great loss, the Standing Central Committee of the DPV would like to announce this sad news to the people of Vietnam and to all the world who believe in peace and democracy. Representing the Standing Central Committee, Nguyen Tam. CONTACT: Democratic Party of Vietnam Overseas Office Dr. Ngai Nguyen, 1-408-603-5030 ngainguyen@aol.com   more »

The INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST INFORMATION BUREAU (BUREAU INTERNATIONAL D'INFORMATION BOUDDHISTE) Official information service of Vien Hoa Dao, Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam announced today that Vietnamese elder dissident Hoang Minh Ching, who died on Tet 2008, asked to be converted to Buddhism by the Venerable Thich Quang Do. This information came to IBIB in Paris from his daughter in Hanoi. Professor Hoang Minh Chinh and Venerable Thich Quang Do exchanged contacts in 2005, after Thich Quang Do sent a “New Year’s Letter” calling on Vietnamese intelligentsia in the North and South to rally together for pluralism and democratic change. This appeal, sent through the intermediary of IBIB and Quê Me to avoid government censorship, succeeded in forging unprecedented links of solidarity and understanding between Communist dissidents in the North and democrats in the South. Hoang Minh Chinh then wrote: “Thich Quang Do’s proposals for democracy and pluralism are fundamentally important and absolutely urgent. He proposes the very things that all our people have been aspiring to with all their hearts for the past half century and more. I have seen the letter circulating widely in Hanoi. Everyone who has read it has found it totally convincing, extremely moving, and worthy of their wholehearted support... “Indeed, I want to say how much I admire the actions of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam. Thich Quang Do, along with all the UBCV clergy and followers, have waged a courageous combat for decades, since the fall of Saigon until today. We Vietnamese have suffered misery and humiliation for too long. It is time to unite. I call on all Vietnamese to join together in support of Thich Quang Do’s proposals and struggle fearlessly to achieve them. We do not fear repression, imprisonment, intimidation. We must keep up the struggle for democracy, pluralism and human rights. This is the only way we can escape from our condition of slavery today...”. In April 2006, Hoang Minh Chinh and Thich Quang Do were jointly awarded the “Democracy Courage Tribute” by 600 democracy activists gathered at the Fourth Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy (WMD) in Istanbul. The WMD praised these “two particularly heroic figures… Even from prison, these men and many others like them from both the secular and religious communities have dared to disseminate messages defending human rights, increased pluralism and the rule of law in Vietnam”. Accepting the award on their behalf, Mr. Vo Van Ai, IBIB Director and President of Quê Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam, stressed the significance of honouring these two men with the award: “For 2,000 years, Vietnam was one country, with one language and one culture. But conflicts of ideology split our country into two, north and south, separating our people and forcing them to live apart under different political regimes.   more »

This video in English is produced to seek assistance for the people in Hanoi. http://vietcatholic.net/News/Clients/ReadArticle.aspx?Id=51742 UPDATE February 10, in Vietnamese. Hơn 7,000 người hành hương về Đền Đức Mẹ ở Thái Hà cầu nguyện đòi công lý Theo Vietcatholic News, hơn một chục cụ bà suốt mấy ngày Tết vẫn liên tục túc trực tại hiện trường khu vực giáo xứ Thái Hà trong niềm hạnh phúc với xác tín canh thức và cầu nguyện của mình. Trong lều bạt giáo dân đã chuẩn bị sẵn nước uống, bánh chưng và bánh ngọt cho những người đến cầu nguyện. Sau những giờ lễ ngày Mùng Một và Mùng Hai Tết, một số giáo dân cũng đến khu vực trên cùng cầu nguyện. Các cha, các thầy và nhiều người ra lều trại chúc Tết và thăm hỏi các cụ bà. All are encouraged to write their ambassadors and national administrations and legislators for intervention with the Socialist government of Vietnam legalized removal of the Catholics from the confiscated property.   more »

Ông Hoàng Minh Chính, tổng thư ký đảng Dân Chủ Việt Nam qua đời http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=73573&z=1 From QueMe (in English) - HOANG MINH CHINH (Tran Ngoc Nghiem), former Dean of the Hanoi Institute of Marxist-Leninist Philosophy, spent almost 20 years in prison and under house arrest without charge for alleged “anti-Party revisionism”. In 1995, Hoang Minh Chinh was arrested again and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on charges of “abusing democratic rights and freedoms” and “anti-socialist propaganda”. On his release, he continued to call for Party reforms. As a result, his movements are restricted and his communications closely monitored. He is continuously summoned for “working sessions” (interrogations) by the Police, and the authorities have organized public “denunciation sessions” to criticize him. http://www.queme.net/eng/docs_detail.php?numb=148    more »

PARIS, 5th February 2008 (IBIB) - From house arrest at the Nguyen Thieu Monastery in Binh Dinh province, the Supreme Patriarch of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) Thich Huyen Quang has sent an audio Message to the international community and Vietnamese around the world. The Message was recorded in secret and broadcast on Radio Free Asia on Monday 4th February. This is the first time in five years, since the Patriarch was placed under tight surveillance following a crack-down on the banned UBCV in 2003, that his voice has been heard on the international media. Firstly, Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang, 89, sent special thanks to Amnesty International for adopting him as a “prisoner of conscience” and launching a worldwide campaign for his release. In this campaign, Amnesty International Group 65 in Toronto, Canada, sent over 3,500 letters and petitions to the Vietnamese and Canadian governments and Amnesty sections in Massachusetts and California also sent thousands of letters to the US and Vietnamese governments, along with hundreds of post cards to Thich Huyen Quang wishing him courage and good health. The International Buddhist Information Bureau, who received copies of these letters, informed the UBCV Patriarch of this campaign. On behalf of the UBCV, Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang thanked Group 65 for “the thousands of letters they have sent to the Vietnamese and Canadian governments calling for the re-establishment of the UBCV’s legal status, and campaigning for my release and religious freedom… Your selfless actions warm my heart, and that of every Buddhist in Vietnam. There is an old saying: “Across the four oceans, all men are brothers”. Today, your concern for the plight of others in such a far-away country as Vietnam demonstrates this spirit of humanity, which transcends all borders, political opinions and religious beliefs. In Buddhism, we call this Universal Compassion, the commitment to save all beings from suffering, regardless of origin or race”. Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang also extended warm thanks to “the government and people of Canada, who, for so many decades, have shown such generous hospitality to Vietnamese Boat people in their quest for freedom. You have given them refuge, a safe haven in which to settle and live freely in accordance with their ideals and beliefs. This is a fine example of civilisation, one that should teach a lesson to developing countries such as Vietnam”. VietAm Review has attached a message from the Vietnamese Canadian Federation which describes the government and Vietnamese community support noted by Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang which was forwarded by Can D. Le, Project Director of Freedom at Last.   more »

PARIS, 1st February 2008 (IBIB) - As the Nobel Selection Committee for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize closes the deadline for nominations today Sixty Members of the European Parliament from all major political groups from left to right endorsed Thich Quang Do’s nomination in letters sent to the Nobel Committee in Oslo yesterday. The signatories included Graham Watson, leader of ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe), Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Monica Frassoni, Co-Presidents of the European Greens, Pasqualina Napoletano, Vice-President of the European Socialist Group, and five Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament, Edward Mc-Millian Scott (EPP-DE, European and Christian Democrats Party), Diana Wallis, Luigi Cocilovo, Gerard Onesta and Mario Mauro. Other prominent Euro MPs backing the nomination were Bronislaw Geremek, former Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Italian MEP Marco Pannella and Marco Cappato (EP Rapporteur on Human Rights), Charles Tannock (UK), Paulo Casaca (Portugal), Richard Czarnecki (Poland), Pia Locatelli, President of the Women’s Socialist International and Baroness Sarah Ludford, Vice-President of the EP Sub-Commission on Human Rights. “By nominating Thich Quang Do, we are not only honouring a personality of great merit and value who has spent a great part of his life in prison under successive political regimes” said MEP Marco Cappato in Brussels, “we are acknowledging the political value and efficiency of Thich Quang Do’s methods of non-violence as the best way of promoting democracy and human rights”. ­ Sixty-seven Members of the Italian Parliament from all political parties, including a member of the Italian Communist Party also nominated Thich Quang Do for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. “Religious freedom is the key to democracy in South-East Asia”, said Italian MP Bruno Mellano, “Venerable Thich Quang Do is a symbol of the peaceful struggle for religious freedom and human rights”. In France, several prominent members of the National Assembly, including Françoise Hostalier, former Secretary of State for Education, also endorsed the appeal. “Thich Quang Do’s vision of democracy extends beyond Vietnam’s borders. In September 2007, he expressed solidarity with the democratic protests of Buddhist monks and civilians in Burma, calling for urgent UN action to cease the violence” wrote the French MPs, noting that “The Vietnamese authorities reacted by launching a widespread vilification against Thich Quang Do in the State-controlled media and threatening his imminent arrest”. In the United States, prominent Members of Congress including Congressman Edward Royce (R.), Zoe Lofgren (D.), Tom Davies (R) and Loretta Sanchez (D.) launched bi-partisan nominations for Thich Quang Do. In letters to the Nobel Selection Committee in Oslo, they declared that Thich Quang Do’s “advocacy for liberty is of historic proportions, and deserves to be recognized by members of your Committee”. The Nobel Peace Prize for Thich Quang Do, they wrote, would “not only honour a courageous proponent of peace, but also acknowledge the silent struggle of all those who risk their lives daily for the cause of human rights and religious freedom in Vietnam and elsewhere”. VietAm Review has attached the letter of nomination from San Jose, California, Councilmember Madison Nguyen with permission.   more »