Speech
by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trang
Chairman
of the Vietnam human rights network
Distinguished
Guests,
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Today,
we gather here to observe the 56th anniversary of the United
Nations’ Declaration of Universal Human Rights, and to honor the recipients of
the 2004 Vietnam Human Rights Award, Dr. Nguyen Dan Que and Mr. Pham Que Duong.
Vietnam,
as it stands today, remains a one-party State, ruled and controlled by the
Communist Party. The government has
systematically deprived its citizens of the fundamental rights, such as: freedom
of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly and freedom of
association.
Known
abuses and violations inflicted by Hanoi since 2001 include:
-
Jailing intellectuals, scientists, academics, journalists, religious
leaders, and dissenting communists for sedition;
-
Forcibly closing over 400 Christian Churches in the Central Highlands and
forcing Christians to renounce their faith;
-
Killing and injuring peaceful Montagnard protesters;
Since the creation of the
Vietnam Human Rights Network seven years ago, we have received continuous
support from countless U.S. lawmakers. Today,
on this occasion, on behalf of the Vietnam Human Rights Network, I would like to
recognize two key supporters in our cause and present the Certificates of
Appreciation to Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and Congressman Ed Royce for their
hard work for Human Rights and Democracy in Vietnam.
Congresswoman
Loretta Sanchez
In
the 108th Congress, Rep. Sanchez has led an effort to establish the
Congressional Vietnam Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives and she is a
co-chair of this Caucus. This Caucus is dedicated to promoting awareness and
policy debates among the U.S. Congress, the American public, and the
international community about the urgent need for basis human rights in Vietnam.
She
was co-author of several Resolutions in the House in promoting human rights for
Vietnam. She was also one of the co-sponsors of the Vietnam Human Rights Act and
was instrumental in assuring that it was overwhelmingly approved by the House.
Twice
she traveled to Vietnam and visited political dissidents. Recently, on December
1, 2004, Vietnam denied her visa application to enter the country.
Congressman
Ed Royce
Rep.
Ed Royce authored the Freedom of Information in Vietnam Act that would boost
Radio Free Asia’s broadcasts to Vietnam, and establish a pilot project to
combat Internet jamming and censorship by the Vietnamese Government.
Last
year Congressman Ed Royce also co-authored legislation to bring attention to the
abysmal human rights record of Vietnam. It passed the House during action on the
foreign Relations Authorization Act. The Vietnam Human Rights Act HR-1587 was
introduced by Rep. Ed Royce in April 2003 and was included as an amendment to
the larger foreign relations bill.
Vietnam
Human Rights Network
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