Hello. My name is Congressman Ed Royce, and I represent Orange County. I would like to thank my good friends Dung Tran and Diem Do for inviting me here today to speak before you. As many of you know, I serve on the International Relations Committee and have a chance to work closely on many issues important to Vietnam.
At the forefront of our agenda has always been the focus on human rights and the nurturing of democracy. Much like what the Viet Tan party believes, I agree that the strength and resources of the Vietnamese people will be vital to seeing to a successful transition from the current oppressive communist regime to democracy.
Of course, a large part of this transition will be through the dissemination of information. We have seen the power that information can have in bringing about change. The hearts and minds of those behind the Iron Curtain were turned by the opportunity to listen daily to a radio broadcast which explained what was actually happening inside their society, and explained liberty, tolerance, political pluralism and democracy. However, efforts to propagate these beliefs are systematically squashed by the Communist regime.
As everyone is well aware, the Communist Government in Vietnam continues to restrict all forms of media inside the country and is taking active measure to keep its citizens from freely accessing news and information.
Over the last several years, in an effort to contain public dissatisfaction with official corruption and a lack of political reform, Vietnam’s government tightened its already stringent control over the media. Writers were detained, harassed, placed under tight surveillance, or arrested for expressing independent viewpoints, while authorities targeted those who use the Internet to distribute independent news or opinions.
Of particular concern is Vietnam’s recent state crackdown on Internet usage to oppress free speech. Cyber café owners and Internet service providers are now required by law to monitor customers’ activities and prevent distribution of unsanctioned material.
One political dissident was sentenced to four years in prison for publishing an essay online. He joined a growing list of students imprisoned for expressing support for either democracy or free speech on the Internet. This sent a clear message to the burgeoning Internet generation that freedom of expression will not be tolerated by the Vietnamese government. Reports estimate that the number of people online in Vietnam jumped to 1.3 million in 2002 from only 300,000 in 2001.
Vietnam’s authoritarian regime knows that unrestricted access to news and information is a threat to their repressive rule – so they work to block access to the Internet. More and more young people are turning to the Internet to obtain international and domestic political, religious, and economic news and information.
As many of you know, we are currently considering granting Vietnam Permanent Normal Trade Relations. This issue has been percolating for some time, and will likely come before Congress in the upcoming session. While I am a major proponent of free trade, there are still important issues that need working out regarding our deal with Vietnam.
Recently, I had a chance to question the Deputy United States Trade Representative on U.S. media access to Vietnam. Under our current agreement, the Vietnamese government maintains strict control over what is imported from the U.S., effectively banning any media material – such as books, movies, and newspapers – from entering Vietnam. We heard from Mr. Nguyen Bich, who told of his own difficulty gaining access to Vietnamese markets. His books on Vietnamese history and culture have been deemed threatening to the communist regime because they lack the Marxist taint of state material. The Deputy USTR testified before our Committee soon after our meeting, and I had a chance to once again press this issue.
In conclusion, I would just like to commend the work that the Viet Tan Party has done in supporting the movement towards democracy. Indeed, it will be a mass effort from the people, tirelessly opposing the oppression of the communist regime that will ultimately see to its demise.
Congratulations to Diem Do as you embark on a journey to lead this group as Chairman for the next 5 years. The call for your leadership comes at a critical juncture as we continue the fight for freedom and democracy in Vietnam. You have my full support.
Again, I thank you for inviting me here today.
