Statement by Duy Hoang
Spokesperson, Viet Tan
Last week, a mother brought thirty roses to a stark prison camp outside of Hanoi. She was visiting her daughter, attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan, on her thirtieth birthday. Le Thi Cong Nhan spent July 20th, like every day for the last two years, as a political prisoner because of pro-democracy articles she posted on the Internet.
Talented individuals like attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan, blogger Dieu Cay or writer Nguyen Xuan Nghia could contribute so much to Vietnam’s development. Instead, they languish in prison as with hundreds of other known prisoners.
While the Hanoi government would like for everyone to forget about these brave activists, we simply will not.
What the Congressional Vietnam Caucus is doing today is extremely important. By raising the cases of prisoners of conscience—through speeches on the floor, public statements and letters to the Hanoi government—Members of Congress provide comfort to the prisoners’ families and tell their jailers that detaining individuals for their peaceful expression is unacceptable.
Members of Congress can take two further steps to support freedom in Vietnam.
The first is to provide strong bipartisan support for H.R. 1969—the Vietnam Human Rights Act—and to encourage the Senate to also pass this legislation.
The second is to co-sponsor H.Res. 672 calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to release imprisoned bloggers and respect internet freedom.
The internet has the power to transform Vietnam, empowering ordinary Vietnamese to become citizen journalists and digital activists.
By supporting internet freedom and increased political space in general, we can help establish the conditions where no Vietnamese is arrested for his or her religious practice or political expression.
Thank you for your support.
