As President Bush prepares to meet at the White House on Friday with Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet, leaders of a movement pressing for democratic reforms in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam have been making the rounds on Capitol Hill reminding leaders here that, despite normalized trade relations and increasing business ties between the two former adversaries, the pursuit of religious rights and freedom of speech is far from complete.
Diem H. Do, chairman of Viet Tan, a pro-democracy group, and others met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cal.) on Wednesday, and they will join Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and other congressmen this afternoon at the introduction of a Vietnam Human Rights Act. They stopped by at the office for a talk this morning.
As the U.S. and Vietnam grow closer, Viet Tan is attempting to make the Vietnamese government’s recognition of human rights there part of the bargain.
The key point I would like people to understand is that, as the two countries move together if Vietnam expects to be included in the international community, Vietnam needs to behave accordingly, said Do, who is based in San Jose, Cal., and chairs a reform party that will celebrate its 25th anniversary in September. Vietnam cannot continue to violate human rights.
It has always been a challenge for us, because we are spread out all over the world, Do told the Tribune today. My party, as well as all other parties, are banned in Vietnam. My members have been arrested, some are in detention right now, and some are under surveillance. It’s difficult.
Meetings like the one between Bush and Triet this week offer an opportunity for us to place on the government of Vietnam some pressure, said Do, who also has met with Bush in an Oval Office meeting May 29 attended by Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.
Bush met with four prominent Vietnamese-American democracy advocates to discuss the best way the internationalcommunity can support efforts to promote greater freedom and openness in Vietnam, the White House says. That included Do, Thanh Cong Do, founding member of the People’s Democratic Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Le Minh, chair, Vietnam Human Rights Network, and Dr. Quan Nguyen, chair, International Committee For Freedom To Support The Non-Violent Movement For Human Rights In Vietnam.
The fact that Bush spends as much time as he does touting the advance of democracy a cause he pursued as he advanced his freedom agenda in Eastern Europe earlier this month does not necessarily conflict with the interest of the U.S. in enhancing its business relationship with Vietnam, according to Do.
To me, it’s not a contradition rather a reflection of reality, he said. A bilateral relationship between any nations is multi-faceted. It’s quite normal for the United States and Vietnam to forge ahead on economic fronts. If that is the reality on the economic side, then let’s deal with the political side. When I met with President Bush on May 29th, I got from him the impression that he expects to continue to pressure Vietnam on human rights.
The U.S. holds tremendous leverage in this relationship.
The United States does not need Vietnam, Do said. But Vietnam needs the United States.
On top of that, he said, looking down the road, a victory for democracy in Vietnam will have a profound impact on the democracy movement in China. It is in the United States interest to see that democracy (comes) to Vietnam.
