Cornyn, Rubio Send Letter Urging Sanctions for Vietnamese Human Rights Abuses
WASHINGTON –
07/31/2020
U.S.
Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter yesterday to
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging the State Department to designate
Vietnam a Country of Particular Concern and consider enacting Global
Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act sanctions to reverse its declining
human rights situation.
They wrote: “Vietnam
is an important security partner in the region but their human rights record
remains an obstacle to strengthening relations. Therefore, we respectfully
request that you raise these issues directly with the Vietnamese government and
that you review imposing Global Magnitsky Act sanctions against
individuals for grave human rights abuses.”
“We
support the Administration’s vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, but the
Vietnamese government’s unjust arrests and persecution of members of the press
and religious practitioners remains a challenge in our relationship.”
“The only
way to realize the full potential of the U.S.-Vietnam relationship is to press
them to take serious steps to improve the human rights situation in Vietnam.”
The full
text of the letter is below.
July 30,
2020
The
Honorable Mike Pompeo
Secretary
Department
of State
2201 C
Street, N.W.
Washington,
D.C. 20520
Dear
Secretary Pompeo:
We write
today regarding the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s continued human rights
abuses against the Vietnamese people. Vietnam is an important security partner
in the region but their human rights record remains an obstacle to strengthening
relations. Therefore, we respectfully request that you raise these issues
directly with the Vietnamese government and that you review imposing Global
Magnitsky Act sanctions against individuals for grave human rights abuses.
Additionally, we request Vietnam be designated as a Country of Particular
Concern for its violations of religious freedom.
Cooperation
between the U.S. and Vietnam has increased over the years in a number of areas
that are important to security and efforts to counter an increasingly aggressive
Chinese Government and Communist Party. We support the Administration’s vision
for a free and open Indo-Pacific, but the Vietnamese government’s unjust arrests
and persecution of members of the press and religious practitioners remains a
challenge in our relationship. Under your and President Trump’s leadership, the
State Department has championed freedom of religion around the world, and I am
proud to support the State Department’s advocacy for this fundamental human
right. Vietnam’s abuses of its Law on Belief and Religion continues to be used
to harass and persecute religious groups who only wish to practice their
religion in peace. The targeted oppression of Vietnamese, Montagnard, and Hmong
Christians is especially troubling. The Vietnamese government’s targeting
of the press, including members of the Independent Journalists Association of
Vietnam, and efforts to silence dissent is also of great concern. It is
important for the U.S. to press the Vietnamese government to respect the
fundamental rights of the Vietnamese people and hold accountable those officials
who are responsible for grave human rights violations.
The United
States must continue to develop and strengthen our partnerships with nations in
the region to ensure mutual prosperity and security and counter Chinese
influence. The only way to realize the full potential of the U.S.-Vietnam
relationship is to press them to take serious steps to improve the human rights
situation in Vietnam.
Thank you
for your leadership and attention to this important issue.
Sincerely,
Vietnam Human Rights Network |