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January 30, 2002

The Honorable Nobel Peace Prize Selection Committee
Norwegian Nobel Institute
Drammensveien 19
N-0255
Oslo, Norway

To the Honorable Chair:

The Nobel Peace Prize, more than any other national or international symbol, upholds the virtues of peace, promotes social justice, and honors those brave enough to risk life, limb, and liberty in their pursuit. Two Vietnamese religious leaders, Venerable Thich Quang Do and Father Nguyen Van Ly embody those principles. Like the Reverend Desmond Tutu of South Africa, and His Holiness the Dalai Llama of Tibet, these two spiritual leaders exemplify the best of the human spirit in their quests for one of the most basic of human rights, freedom of worship.

In his native Vietnam, the Venerable Thich Quang Do has been imprisoned, placed under house arrest, exiled, and jailed again simply for advocating fundamental human rights. For decades the Venerable Thich Quang Do, the secretary-general of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, has protested government infringements upon religious practice and interference with the church. The Dalai Llama described his efforts as “the legitimate expressions of the fundamental right to freedom of religion.” A repeated prisoner of conscience, the Venerable Thich Quang Do has called for compassion and tolerance in the face of authoritarian repression.

"Human civilization," the Venerable Thich Quang Do has declared, "would not allow a government of any ideology or political system to intentionally exempt itself from universal values and erect an iron curtain to keep a section of humankind in the shadow of history behind the vague concept of the fabricated excuse of ‘internal affairs.’" As it has recognized struggles in Burma, Guatemala, and South Africa, the international community must also acknowledge this campaign for human rights and dignities in Vietnam.

Similarly since 1977, Father Nguyen Van Ly has been repeatedly arrested, isolated, and jailed for advocating religious freedom. In May of last year, Father Ly was placed under house arrest and banned from running his church for providing testimony to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. On October 19, 2001, in a two hour trial without the presence of a defense lawyer or independent witnesses, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam sentenced Reverend Ly to 15 years in prison on charges that he undermined the country’s unity and violated a detention order by providing testimony.

As Father Ly maintains, “During the reign of a dictatorial and totalitarian power over the entire people of a country, religions are the main - sometimes the only - place to shelter and support those souls in desperate needs of freedom and justice. At the minimum, people should be able to find [in these religions] the support for the spirit of defiance [to injustice]. This spirit exists naturally in all people of culture and conscience.”

For decades the Venerable Thich Quang Do and Father Ly have followed the path of peaceful protest in the face of repression, like many other past recipients of this honor. In recognition of their courage, their convictions, and their sacrifices, we, the undersigned, respectfully submit the names of the Venerable Thich Quang Do and Father Nguyen Van Ly as nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize. Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours,

1. Loretta Sanchez

3. Tom Davis

3. Zoe Lofgren

4. Chris Smith

5. Lloyd Doggett

6. Mike Honda

7. Ed Royce

8. Joseph Crowley

9. Vic Snyder

10. JoAnn Emerson

11. Dennis Moore

12. Robert A. Brady

13. Mark Udall

14. Juanita Millender-McDonald

15. Adam B. Schiff

16. Maurice Hinchey

17. Nick Lampson

18. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

19. C.C. Kilpatrick

20. Gary Condit

21. Frank R. Wolf

22. Dale E. Kildee

23. Eliot L. Engel

24. Steve Israel

25. David Phelps

26. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.

27. Bill Pascrell, Jr.

28. Frank R. Mascara

29. Ike Skelton

30. Carrie P. Meek

31. Leonard L. Boswell

32. Shelley Berkley

33. Diane E. Watson

34. Ciro D. Rodriguez

35. Robert A. Underwood

36. Donna M. Christensen

37. Joe Baca

38. Gene Green

39. Gregory W. Meeks

40. Bob Etheridge

41. Ron Kind

42. Lois Capps

43. Sheila Jackson-Lee

44. Rubén Hinojosa

45. Karen McCarthy

46. Bob Filner

47. Hilda L. Solis

48. Donald M. Payne

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