Women for Human Rights in Vietnam

www.whrvn.org

 February 20, 2008

 The Honorable Michael Chertoff

Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security

Washington D.C. 20528

Email: fema-nrf@dhs.gov

Fax: 202-282-9188

Re.: Issues Relating to the Deportation Agreement between the United States and Vietnam

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