December 6, 2011
Washington, DC— Marking International Human Rights Day on December 10th, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, today introduced a resolution urging the Government of Vietnam to take meaningful steps to improve human rights in Vietnam. Rep. Sanchez called on the Vietnamese government to cease the abuse of vague national security provisions in the Vietnamese penal code, specifically articles 79 and 88, which are often used to justify the detention of citizens who peacefully advocate for religious and political freedom.
“I condemn the Government of Vietnam for its continued crackdowns against community organizers and social activists,” said Sanchez. “The Vietnamese government must cease its dubious use of articles 79 and 88 to prosecute citizens for peacefully expressing their views. The scores of peaceful government critics who are unjustly imprisoned should be freed. Government harassment of dissidents cannot be tolerated and Vietnamese authorities must respect open discussion and personal expression if Vietnam wishes to be fully integrated into the broader international community. The Government of Vietnam’s stated desire to have other countries adhere to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas and similar international agreements is bolstered by its own respect for international norms on human rights.
“If promoting democracy is typically viewed as “activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration”, Sanchez continued. “Then the Hanoi regime must be held accountable for setting new human rights standards and embrace legal reforms to be in line with a international norms on human rights.”
Click here to read House Resolution 484, “Calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to respect basic human rights and cease abusing vague national security provisions such as articles 79 and 88 of the Vietnamese penal code which are often the pretext to arrest and detain citizens who peacefully advocate for religious and political freedom.”
Call on your Members of Congress to take action — ask for their support of H.Res 484.
