With Vice President Kamala Harris’ upcoming trip to Vietnam, 60 Vietnamese American organizations have co-signed a letter emphasizing the importance of defending human rights. These groups represent a cross-section of pro-democracy, religious, media, and community organizations throughout the United States.
Particularly during this pandemic, the Vietnamese American community recommends that vaccine distribution is equitable and free; freedom of speech and access to information are respected; and all political prisoners must be protected from COVID-19 and immediately released.
To view the English PDF of this letter, click here.
To view the Vietnamese PDF of this letter, click here.
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August 17, 2021
The Honorable Kamala Harris
The White House
Office of the Vice President
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Vice President Harris,
Your trip to Southeast Asia comes at a vital time as several countries in that region are battling the worst outbreak of the pandemic since it started.
The United States’ effort to provide safe vaccines to Vietnam will help increase the number of people who are vaccinated and reduce the spread of the virus. While we deeply appreciate this help and urge for more vaccines donated to Vietnam, such efforts must be matched with assurances that the vaccination is equitable and transparent.
We also have grave concerns about the overall human rights situation in Vietnam. During the pandemic, the Vietnamese government detained over 50 bloggers, journalists, and human rights defenders. At the beginning of 2021, three members of the Independent Journalist Association of Vietnam were sentenced to long prison terms.
The United States has learned how quickly COVID-19 can spread, particularly in prisons. It is a humanitarian concern when the Vietnamese authorities are increasing the arrests of human rights defenders and placing them in unhygienic, confined places.
To make sure the US efforts to support vaccination in Vietnam can effectively reduce the spread of COVID-19, we strongly recommend that you urge the Vietnamese authorities to:
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- Ensure equitable and free distribution of vaccines. The vaccination program must be based on transparent criteria, prioritizing at-risk groups rather than those with political connections or ability to pay bribes.
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- Respect freedom of speech and access to information. Misinformation during a pandemic prolongs the recovery process, yet Vietnamese state media has not been forthcoming about how dangerous the conditions are in Vietnam. Doctors and volunteers have organized online to fill in the information gap. Their work should be respected and encouraged instead of being a cause for interrogation and arrest by the Vietnamese authorities.
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- Release citizen journalists and human rights defenders from prison. The continued detainment of prisoners of conscience runs counter to Vietnam’s stated commitment to respect international norms on human rights. In a pandemic, the safety of these activists is further threatened. The Vietnamese government must immediately release all political prisoners, including: Can Thi Theu, Chau Van Kham, Pastor Dinh Diem, Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, Do Nam Trung, Ho Duc Hoa, Huynh To Nga, Le Dinh Luong, Le Huu Minh Tuan, Pastor Nguyen Trung Ton, Nguyen Tuong Thuy, Pham Chi Dung, Pham Doan Trang, Pham Thanh, Phan Van Thu, Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Tran Thi Xuan, Pastor Y Yich.
As Vietnamese Americans, we applaud the Administration’s commitment to advance human rights. This is the opportunity for the United States to stand with the people of Vietnam, defend human rights, and demand the Vietnamese government uphold the fundamental freedom and rights of its citizens, especially during the pandemic.
Respectfully,
Nguyen Thanh Ha, Coordinating Chair
Assembly for Democracy in Viet Nam
Nguyen Tuong Thuoc, President
Association of Former Political Prisoners – New Jersey
Nguyen Quy, President
Association of Former Political Prisoners – Stockton, California
Nguyen Phi, Representative
Atlantic County Vietnamese Community Center – New Jersey
Tran Tuan Kiet, Organizing Chair
Benefit Concert for Vietnamese Patriots – Stockton, California
The Venerable Thich Tri Vien
Boston Buddhist Temple
Nam Nguyen, CEO
Cali Today Multi-Media Network
Andrew Tu, PhD, Chairman
Champar Council Vietnam
The Venerable Thich Dang Phap
Chan Nguyen Monastery – California
Tan Tara Thach, PhD, Chairman
Council of Indigenous Peoples of Indochina
Reverend Cong Chinh Nguyen, President
The Council of the Ethnic Peoples and Religions of Vietnam (CPRVN)
Vietnamese People’s Evangelical Fellowship (VPEF)
Do Phu, Attorney
Do Phu & Anh Tuan, PLC
Chu Ba Yen, President
Florida Viet Bao Newspaper
Le Son, President
The Former Cadets of Dalat Political War College – Northeast Region of America
Paul Hanh Nguyen, President
Free Vietnamese Organization in Hawaii
Le Phuoc Lam, President
Gia Dinh Magazine – Florida
Reverend Tuy Trinh
The Great Way of the 3rd Amnesty Era Cao Dai Temple – Houston, Texas
Hoach Tran, President
Hoi Den Hung Foundation
Reverend Pham Van Chinh (retired)
Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Parish – Largo, Florida
The Venerable Thich Huyen Thien
Hue Minh Temple – Sacramento, California
Nancy Bui, Vice President of External Affairs
Justice for Formosa’s Victims
Thach Thuon, PhD, Chairman
Khmer-Krom Council of Vietnam
The Venerable Thich Vien Phap
Kim Son Monastery – Watsonville, California
Nhan Hoang, President
Lien Hoi Cuu Chien Si San Diego
Lisa Lam, President
Little Saigon San Diego
Rong Nay, PhD, Executive Director
Montagnard Human Rights Organization
Y Siu Hlong, PhD, Chairman
Montagnard Vietnamese Community
Le Binh, Chief Editor/CEO
Nang Magazine – Northern California
Sophie Duong, Director
National Viet Radio
Pho Quoc Uy, President
Navy Association of the Republic of Vietnam – Orlando, Florida
Tuan Nguyen, President
Overseas Association of Cadets of South Vietnam Air Force’s Class of 72-74
Douglas H. Nguyen, Principal
Phu Dong Learning Center – San Jose, California
Thien L. Huynh, Anchor
Radio “Tieng Mo” – Northern California
David Bui, MD, President
Republic of Vietnam Veteran Association of Central Florida, Inc.
Truc Ho, CEO
SBTN, Inc
Nguyen Ngon, President
South Vietnam National Police Force Alumni Association in Massachusetts
Dan T. Hoang
Editor-in-Chief, “SJ Journal, Weekly”
Host, Viet Radio KSJX AM1500
Thuong Hoang, General Secretary
Thu Duc Officer Force – Northern California
Duc Ngo, Executive Chairman
TNT Radio Network
Pastor Y Hin Nie, President
United Montagnard Christian Church (UMCC)
Quang Nhu, Parishioner
Uu Dam Temple – Marina, California
Billy Nguyen, CEO
Vi Dan Media Network
Anne Ngoc Huynh, Program Director
Viet Radio on AM1500-SJ
Nguyen Si Tien, Editor
Viet Song Magazine, Florida
Nguyen Van Nhu, President
Republic of Vietnam Air Force Vets Association of Central Florida
Duong Dai Hai, PhD
President, Vietnam Federation of Labor in Oversea
Director, Peter Global Media Televisions
Binh Nguyen, MD, President
Vietnam for Progress
Pastor Nguyen Hoang Hoa, Co-Chair
Vietnam Interreligious Council
Vinnie Bao Toan Than, President
Vietnamese American Community of Massachusetts
La Cam Tu, President
Vietnamese American Community of Philadelphia
Dinh Pham, President
Vietnamese American Women Association
Quoc-Anh Tran, President
Vietnamese Community of Houston and Vicinities
Thao Duc Tu, President
Vietnamese Community of Oregon
Hien Duong, President
Vietnamese Community of New Jersey
Ho Tram Xuan Thuong, President
Vietnamese Community of Pennsylvania
Kim Trang Dang, President
Vietnamese Community of San Diego
Nguyen Tan Loc, President
Vietnamese Community of Tampa Bay
Long Nguyen, President
The Vietnamese Refugee Community of Los Angeles County
Nguyen Em, President
Vietnamese Seniors Association – Stockton, California
Duy Hoang, Spokesperson
Viet Tan
