U.S. tells Vietnam human right issues may impede ties

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on print
Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on print

Apr 12, 2010

HANOI (Reuters) – A senior U.S. diplomat told Vietnamese officials on Monday he was concerned human rights issues could impede the development of bilateral economic and trade ties.

There may be “implications” for the growing economic relationship between the former foes if human rights and labour issues are not managed properly, Robert Hormats, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs, told reporters without elaborating.

Between October and February Vietnam jailed 16 people in what Western diplomats and political analysts characterised as an unusually harsh crackdown on dissent in the Communist-run one-party state.

Human rights issues “are seen as important by a number of people in our country and therefore they could have an influence over a period of time on our economic relationship with Vietnam”, Hormats said.

He said that in meetings with Vietnamese officials he voiced “concerns that, in general, if there were these issues, they could make it more difficult for us to proceed to do the kind of improvements in economic ties that we want to”.

The goal was to resolve such issues constructively, he said.

Perceived backsliding on human rights has raised questions about whether Vietnam should be returned to the State Department’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern” for religious freedom, which could carry economic sanctions.

Vietnam was on the list between 2004 and 2006.

The United States was the biggest single foreign investor in Vietnam last year, and also its largest export market.

Hormats said Vietnam was a “very strong partner” in Asia, a region where he said the United States wants to strengthen its role. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung was in Washington for U.S. President Barack Obama’s Nuclear Security Summit.

(Reporting by John Ruwitch; Editing by Jerry Norton)

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-47625020100412

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on print

LATEST ARTICLES

Vietnam: A Half Century Of Backwardness And The Path Forward

Half a century after the war and following three decades of integration, Vietnam has seen economic growth but our overall development remains behind the advanced countries in the region. Without sustainable and comprehensive development, Vietnam is at risk of falling further behind.

Internet Freedom Campaign

Vital to Vietnam’s development, the Internet has the power to transform Vietnamese society; in many ways it already has. In the absence of an independent media, citizens have turned to the Internet to follow the news and debate national issues.

Fleeing My Homeland but Unable to Escape Repression !

My name is Nguyễn Văn Tráng, a human rights defenderwanted by the Vietnamese government. As a democracy activist in Vietnam, I spent five years living in constant fear of being hunted down. I thought that fear would subside once I fled the country. I believed I would be safe—or at least safer. But I was wrong.

Chris MacLeod pays tribute to Y Brec Bya

Y Krec has exhibited personal bravery in the face of horrific persecution. Not just against himself but against his community. He has been jailed multiple times simply for practicing his faith outside of government control.