Kính chuyển, vì có đoạn nói về CSVN. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 26, 2009 USCIRF Comment on State Dept. Religious Freedom Report WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes today’s release of the first International Religious Freedom Report of the Obama administration, and urges the prompt designation of “countries of particular concern” (CPCs) as well as implementation of targeted policies on those countries. ... The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) requires the State Department to undertake an annual review of every country to “determine whether the government of that country has engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.” Any country meeting that threshold is to be designated a “country of particular concern,” and the U.S. government is required to take action to encourage improvements in each CPC country. IRFA provides a range of possibilities for such action, from negotiating a bilateral agreement to sanctions. “Both Democratic and Republican administrations have underutilized the ‘country of particular concern’ designation,” said Mr. Leo. “As documented in this first report under the Obama administration, religious freedoms are aggressively repressed in the nations that have been designated as CPC countries. But the facts outlined in the report demonstrate just as clearly that countries such as Pakistan and Vietnam meet the CPC statutory requirements and should be so designated.” USCIRF commissioners met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in June regarding USCIRF’s continuing recommendation that she designate as CPCs the following 13 countries: Burma, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, People’s Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. USCIRF also recommended that stronger actions be taken against the eight countries currently listed as CPCs by the State Department: Burma, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, People’s Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan. ............... A USCIRF delegation traveled to Vietnam in May 2009 and came away concerned about the level of police harassment of independent religious activity. USCIRF found the continued detention of religious prisoners of concern and coordinated government policies designed to suppress the growth of certain Buddhist, Hoa Hao, and Protestant groups, as evidence that Vietnam should be designated as a CPC. Since USCIRF returned, there have been detentions of Protestant religious leaders, police raids on Protestant churches and Buddhist monasteries, evictions of monks from monasteries, and violence used to dispel peaceful Catholic prayer vigils at disputed properties. “No more excuses can be made by the administration for not designating Vietnam as a CPC,” said Michael Cromartie, USCIRF Vice Chair. “There is clear evidence of severe religious freedom restrictions and the CPC designation worked in the past to bring out tangible change without hindering other bilateral interests.” USCIRF’s own assessments are presented in greater detail in our 2009 Annual Report, available at http://www.uscirf.gov. ********************************************************************************* OPEN FOR FULL ARTICLE AND VIETNAMESE TRANSLATION BY LE MINH (SYDNEY)   more »

H. RES. 672 Calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to release imprisoned bloggers and respect Internet freedom. ___________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Honorables LORETTA SANCHEZ and ZOE LOFGREN of California submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on _____________ RESOLUTION Calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to release imprisoned bloggers and respect Internet freedom. Whereas the Internet is a tool to exercise freedom of expression and association, both of which are basic human rights; Whereas the Internet is a medium to share information freely, promote social and economic development, and connect Vietnamese citizens domestically and internationally; Whereas the Government of Vietnam created the Administration Agency for Radio, Television and Electronics Information in October 2008 and issued Circular 07 in December 2008 to restrict Internet freedom, censor private blogs, and compel information technology companies to cooperate with government efforts to monitor personal information of Internet users; Whereas the Government of Vietnam has imprisoned bloggers and numerous democracy activists who have distributed their peaceful views over the Internet; Whereas the Government of Vietnam continues to firewall external websites promoting democracy and human rights; and Whereas these actions violate individuals’ right to freedom of speech and expression: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the right of Vietnamese citizens to access websites of their choosing and to have the freedom to share and publish information over the Internet; (2) calls on the Government of Vietnam to repeal Circular 07, Article 88, and similar statutes that restrict the Internet, so as to be in line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory; (3) calls on the Government of Vietnam to be come a responsible member state of the international community by respecting individuals’ freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of political association; and (4) calls on the Government of Vietnam to release all political prisoners, including but not limited to the following bloggers and cyber activists— (A) Le Cong Dinh; (B) Le Nguyen Sang; (C) Le Thi Cong Nhan; (D) Nguyen Van Hai (Dieu Cay); (E) Nguyen Xuan Nghia; (F) Ngo Quynh; (G) Nguyen Ngoc Quang; (H) Nguyen Thi Hong; (I) Nguyen Van Dai; (J) Pham Ba Hai; (K) Pham Thanh Nghien; (L) Pham Van Troi; (M) Tran Huynh Duy Thuc; (N) Truong Minh Duc; (O) Truong Quoc Huy; (P) Vu Hoang Hai; (Q) Nguyen Tien Trung; and (R) Vu Hung.   more »

Nghị Quyết 672 về Internet Freedom đòi hỏi CSVN phải tôn trọng quyền tự do internet đã được thông qua tại Hạ Viện QH Hoa Kỳ, nhờ vào sự vận động của Viet Kieu tại Hoa Kỳ October 21, 2009 Contact: Duy Hoang +1 (202) 470-0845 Viet Tan applauds passage of U.S. legislation supporting internet freedom in Vietnam Following show trials in Vietnam that saw the imprisonment of nine democracy and cyber activists, Viet Tan applauds the passage of H. Res 672, which calls on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to release imprisoned bloggers and respect Internet freedom. With overwhelming bipartisan support, Congress stands with human rights supporters and digital activists who seek to promote freedom of information and expression in Vietnam. Since 2007, a systemic campaign against free speech by Vietnamese authorities has seen press freedoms curtailed, prominent journalists and bloggers arrested, and an overall crackdown on those who dare to speak out. Listed on the dishonor roll by the Committee to Protect Journalists as one of the “10 Worst Countries for Bloggers,” Hanoi is known for its repression of political dissent. However, with over 24 million citizen now turning to the Internet, the regime has stepped up its censorship of the web. Vital to Vietnam’s development, the Internet has the power to transform Vietnamese society, and in many ways it already has. In the absence of an independent media, citizens have turned to the Internet to follow the news and debate national issues. In addition to being a source of information, the Internet is also a potent organizing tool. While Hanoi continues to severely restrict freedom of association, de facto organizations in the form of social networks, discussion forums and issue-specific clubs are active online. Earlier this month, the Vietnamese authorities sentenced nine democracy activists who used the Internet to organize to a total of 59 years of imprisonment and probation. It is becoming increasingly clear that the walls used by the Hanoi regime to isolate and control the people are increasingly electronic rather than physical. By passing H. Res 672 today, the U.S. Congress sends a strong message to the Vietnamese Communist Party that arbitrarily stifling essential freedoms of expression and information is unacceptable. Viet Tan wishes to recognize the leadership of Representative Loretta Sanchez and the 21 Members of Congress who co-sponsored the Vietnam internet freedom resolution. The efforts of the United States government and other democracies are crucial in protecting and advancing free expression. As part of Viet Tan’s Internet freedom campaign, we will continue working with the international community and activists in Vietnam to: · Challenge legal statutes restricting freedom of expression · Urge technology companies not to give into Internet censorship demands · Support imprisoned bloggers and cyber activists ### -- Angelina Do Viet Tan www.viettan.org The mission of Viet Tan is to overcome dictatorship, build the foundation for a sustainable democracy, and demand justice and human rights for the Vietnamese people through nonviolent struggle based on civic participation.   more »

Statement in Support of H. Res. 672 Hon. Zoe Lofgren Wednesday, October 21, 2009 I rise today in support of H.Res. 672, a bill which I am proud to cosponsor. Introduced by my good friend, colleague, and co-chair of the Vietnam Caucus, Representative Loretta Sanchez, this legislation calls on the Vietnamese government to respect internet freedom and to release a number of jailed pro-democracy activists. I am deeply concerned about Vietnam’s human rights record, which shows no signs of improving. Just last month at its United Nations Universal Periodic Review, Vietnam rejected 45 recommendations from member states, including the release of peaceful prisoners of conscience and to lift internet and blogging controls and prohibitions on privately-owned media. This situation is unacceptable. We need to send a message to the Vietnamese government that the United States Congress does not condone its repression of free speech and democracy. Using anti-propaganda laws to silence opposition and maintain one-party control is not democracy and should not be tolerated. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.   more »

Banned, Censored, Harassed, and Jailed Six Vietnamese Writers Receive Hellman/Hammett Grants ( New York , October 13, 2009) – Six Vietnamese writers are among a diverse group of 37 writers from 19 countries to receive the prestigious Hellman/Hammett award this year, Human Rights Watch said today. The award honors their commitment to free expression and their courage in the face of political persecution. All are writers and activists whose work and activities have been suppressed. Beyond what they experienced themselves, they represent numerous other writers and journalists whose personal and professional lives have been disrupted as a result of repressive government policies governing speech and publications. “Honoring these writers shines a spotlight on the Vietnam that many people in the world do not see,” said Elaine Pearson , deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “This is a place where the government harshly suppresses peaceful dissent, free speech, independent media, and open access to the internet, and does everything it can to silence its critics.” This year’s prize winners from Vietnam include: * A blogger imprisoned for his hard-hitting postings calling for democratic reforms; * Several writers affiliated with To Quoc (Fatherland), an underground dissident bulletin; * A Buddhist monk who spent 26 years in prison for his religious beliefs and his writings; * A former People’s Army officer turned poet and critic; and * An ethnic Tay writer from northern Vietnam who was dismissed from the Vietnamese Communist Party after it became known he supported the democracy movement. Two of this year’s awardees, Pham Thanh Nghien and Tran Anh Kim, are in prison, awaiting trial for their pro-democracy activities and writings. Scores of government critics have been arrested and jailed in Vietnam over the past year. In early October 2009, courts in Hanoi and Haiphong sentenced nine dissidents to prison, including the well-known writer Nguyen Xuan Nghia, recipient of the 2008 Hellman/Hammett award. Another Hellman/Hammett recipient, the novelist and human rights activist Tran Khai Thanh Thuy – who was imprisoned for nine months in 2007 – was roughed up and detained by the police on October 8, after she tried to attend the trials of fellow dissidents In Hanoi and Haiphong . OPEN ARTICLE for MORE (English). See attachment for Vietnamese translation.    more »

The People's Democratic Party http://dangdcnd.blogspot.com/ dangdanchunhandan@yahoo.com October 9, 2009 For Immediate Release On October 6, 7, 8 and 9, 2009, the Hanoi authorities have tried these pro-democracy activists including writer Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Mr. Ngo Quynh, Mr. Nguyen Manh Son, Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh, Mr. Nguyen Van Tuc, Mr. Nguyen Kim Nhan in Hai Phong and Mr. Pham Van Troi, teacher Vu Hung and poet Tran Duc Thach in Ha Noi, Vietnam. All were imprisoned with various sentences from 2 to 6 years in jail for the fabricated and arbitrary charges of the so-called “violation of Article 88 of Vietnam’s Criminal Code”. The above individuals have committed no crimes. They were only exercising their rights to freedom of expression by peaceful means. Vietnam is a member of the UN Commission on Human Rights in which the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Article 19, clearly protects the right of the individual to "seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, or through any other media of his or her choice". In addition, according to Article 9 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile," and The Socialist Republic of Vietnam's Constitution itself declares the "right of freedom expression, right of freedom press, right of freedom exchange information and right to form an association and right to demonstration" in article 69. However, the Vietnam Communist Party has ignored these basic human rights, continued to crackdown and used harsh sentences to silence pro-democracy activists. The People’s Democratic Party strongly condemns the trials and sentencing, staged by the Vietnamese Communist Party. We call upon our members and the Vietnamese people at home and abroad to continue fighting for Human Rights, Freedom and Democracy for Vietnam. Regards, Tran, Nam Spokesperson of the People’s Democratic Party   more »

UA: 276/09 Index: ASA 41/008/2009 Issue Date: 09 October 2009 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE SENTENCED Vu Hung, a male teacher and pro-democracy activist, has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for “conducting propaganda” against the state after a three-hour trial. He was arrested on 18 September 2008, after calling for democracy and peacefully protesting over a territory dispute with China. Vu Hung is a prisoner of conscience. On 7 October, a court in the Vietnamese capital Ha Noi sentenced Vu Hung to three years’ imprisonment and three years’ probation, or house arrest, on release. Vu Hung is reported to have said at the trial: “I just want to contribute my little voice to make society better.” In May 2009, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention stated that his detention was arbitrary. On 18 September 2008, law enforcement officials arrested Vu Hung and he was charged under Article 88 of the Penal Code, for “conducting propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam”. In the months immediately after his arrest, Vu Hung was repeatedly beaten during interrogations and went on hunger-strike in protest. He was taken to a Ministry of Public Security hospital on several occasions when his health had deteriorated. Concerns for his health and welfare increased when his whereabouts in the prison were unknown for more than two months in late 2008 and early 2009. His current place of detention and his state of health are unknown. OPEN ARTICLE FOR VIETNAMESE TEXT AND FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 19 NOVEMBER 2009 TO: Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1 Ton That Dam Street Ba Dinh district, Ha Noi Viet Nam Fax: + 8443 823 1872 Email: bc.mfa@mofa.gov.vn Salutation: Dear Minister Minister of Public Security Le Hong Anh Ministry of Public Security 44 Yet Kieu Street Ha Noi Viet Nam Fax: + 8443 942 0223 Salutation: Dear Minister Also send copies to diplomatic representatives of Viet Nam accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of UA 18/09 (ASA 41/001/2009). Further information: www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA41/001/2009/en Working to protect human rights worldwide   more »

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION UA: 270/09 Index: ASA 41/007/2009 Issue Date: 08 October 2009 VIETNAMESE PRISONER HELD INCOMMUNICADO Nguyen Hoang Hai, a male prisoner of conscience who blogged under the name Dieu Cay, has been transferred to a remote prison in Viet Nam and denied visitors for several months. No-one has heard from him during that time, and police have warned his family against speaking publicly. He is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. Nguyen Hoang Hai, aged 57, was arrested in April 2008 and sentenced the following September to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for tax fraud. The charges against him are believed to be politically motivated. He had been interrogated 15 times before officers from the Internal Security and Counter-Espionage Department of the Ministry of Public Security arrested him. In May 2009, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention deemed his detention arbitrary, with no basis under international law. Nguyen Hoang Hai is the co- founder of the independent Free Vietnamese Journalists' Club, formed in 2007, and has written articles critical of China’s foreign policies. He also took part in a peaceful protest before the Olympic Torch passed through Ho Chi Minh City in April 2008. He publicly criticized policies of the Vietnamese government before his arrest and spoke out for human rights in Viet Nam in his blogs. In April 2009, Nguyen Hoang Hai was transferred to Cai Tau prison, at the southern-most tip of Viet Nam, and more than nine hours' journey from his home in Ho Chi Minh City. According to sources in Viet Nam, Nguyen Hoang Hai’s family has been refused permission to visit him since June 2009. No-one has heard from Nguyen Hoang Hai in recent months. Prison conditions in Viet Nam are generally harsh, and provision of health care is limited. Some political prisoners are held incommunicado and therefore vulnerable to ill-treatment and torture. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Freedom of expression and association is strictly controlled in Viet Nam. Dissidents who are critical of government policies and speak out about human rights violations face a range of sanctions to silence them. These include surveillance by local police, restrictions on movement, interference with home utilities such as phone lines and internet access, arbitrary questioning and detention by police, arrest and imprisonment. There are also cases where authorities have used arbitrary detention in mental health institutions against outspoken critics and activists. At least 30 dissidents have been handed down long prison sentences, since a series of arrests began in 2006 after a short-lived period of tolerance to increased web-based activism challenging the government. Another wave of arrests began in May 2009. At least 12 dissidents are held in pre-trial detention. The law enforcement agencies arbitrarily use provisions in the national security section of the Penal Code to stifle and criminalize peaceful dissent, in breach of international human rights treaties that Viet Nam has ratified. Restrictions and regulations on internet use penalize freedom of expression on topics deemed sensitive, including human rights and advocacy of democracy. Recent regulations on blogging enacted in December 2008 restrict content to personal matters, and prohibit dissemination of anti-government material, and “undermining national security”. PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY, in English, Vietnamese or your own language: Calling on the authorities to allow Nguyen Hoang Hai immediate access to his family, lawyer and any medical treatment he may need; Urging that he is not tortured or ill-treated in detention; Demanding that the authorities release Nguyen Hoang Hai immediately and unconditionally. PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 19 NOVEMBER 2009 TO: Minister of Public Security Le Hong Anh Ministry of Public Security 44 Yet Kieu Street Ha Noi VIET NAM Fax: + 844 3942 0223 Salutation: Dear Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1 Ton That Dam Street Ba Dinh District Ha Noi VIET NAM Fax: + 844 3823 1872 Email: bc.mfa@mofa.gov.vn Salutation: Dear Minister   more »

East Asia and the Pacific: Remarks With Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem After Their Meeting Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:33:00 -0500 Remarks With Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem After Their Meeting Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Treaty Room Washington, DC October 1, 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECRETARY CLINTON: Hello. Well, it was a pleasure to welcome Deputy Prime Minister Khiem to the State Department. I want to start by expressing the deepest sympathy of the United States for the loss of life and destruction of property caused across so many countries through the impact of Typhoon Ketsana. And as I told Minister Khiem, we stand ready to assist the people of Vietnam as they recover from this tragedy, just as we are working with the victims of the earthquakes, of the tsunamis. There have been a number of natural disasters that have caused great damage. I also reaffirmed to the minister the commitment of the United States to strengthen and deepen our relationship with Vietnam and the nations of Southeast Asia. We believe that this is a region vital to global progress, prosperity, and peace, and we are fully engaged with our partners in ASEAN on a wide range of challenges. Next year will mark the 15th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between our two countries. We can be proud of the progress we’ve made. I was very proud and am very fond of the memories of my own visit to Vietnam in 2000. Today, we had a productive discussion focused on many issues – we talked very fast – including our regular dialogues on security; trade; human rights, especially freedom of expression; humanitarian cooperation; natural disaster cooperation; the fact that Vietnam will be presiding over the Security Council this month, as well as chairing ASEAN in 2010. In the Security Council, we are working to advance nonproliferation, women’s rights, and other areas, and we’re going to work to deepen our already strong and growing economic ties. Last year, our two-way trade surpassed $15 billion. That is more than tenfold of an increase since our bilateral trade agreement went into effect in 2001. And the minister and I discussed areas where we’re going to expand our trade and economic cooperation. We will build on the work we did at the first Lower Mekong ministerial in Phuket, and there are many areas of not only bilateral but regional cooperation that we intend to explore. So again, Minister Khiem, thank you so much for being here. OPEN ARTICLE FOR FULL TEXT, INCLUDING COMMENTS ABOUT IRAN AND NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION MR. KELLY: Thank you. QUESTION: Thank you. FOREIGN MINISTER KHIEM: Thank you. PRN: 2009/984   more »