The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
United States Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
November 20, 2007
Dear Secretary Rice:
We are writing to you to express our serious concerns regarding the reported arrests of two United States Citizens, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan and Truong Van Ba (Leon), in Vietnam on November 17, 2007. We request your immediate assistance to investigate these cases and ensure that their rights as American citizens are upheld.
It has been just over a year since the Government of Vietnam arrested another United States citizen, Mr. Cong Thanh Do, on August 14, 2006 and held him on unlawful charges in Vietnam.
Mr. Do, a constituent of Congresswoman Lofgren, was eventually returned to his family in the United States, and we thank you for the involvement of the State Department in securing the release of Mr. Do.
We are disappointed to hear that the Government of Vietnam has arrested United States citizens in Vietnam for reportedly having a peaceful discussion. Not only do we ask you to work to return these United States citizens to the United States, but we ask you convey to the Government of Vietnam that the arbitrary detention of United States citizens is unacceptable.
We thank you for your efforts. Any information you can provide on the status of Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan and Mr. Truong Van Ba is greatly appreciated.
Respectfully,
Members of Congress
Loretta Sanchez
Zoe Lofgren
Neil Abercrombie