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Press Release
Council for Human
Rights in Vietnam
SYMPOSIUM
"HUMAN RIGHTS IN VIETNAM - 25 YEARS AFTER"
New York, N.Y. - On December 9, 2000, the Council for Human Rights in
Vietnam (CHRVN) organized a symposium with the theme "Human Rights in
Vietnam-25 Years After." The said symposium was sponsored by the
Vietnam Human Rights Network. The purpose of the symposium, according to
Hong-Lien Nguyen, event coordinator and former chair of CHRVN, is to
gather from the panelists assessments, analyses of the current conditions
of human rights in VN, as well as suggestions on ways how to improve human
rights in Vietnam.
The symposium began at 5:15 p.m. with the opening remarks delivered by Mr.
Bui Quang Nghia on behalf of the organizing committee. Ms. Hong-Lien
Nguyen introduced some of the distinguished guests: Mr. Horst Uhlich,
President of Captive Nations Committee Inc. and his wife Eva; Mr. John
Molloy, Vice-Chairman of National Vietnam Veterans Coalition and his wife
Barbara, and Dr. Victor DeFazio of the National Vietnam Veterans Coalition
and his wife Sheila; Mr. Nguyen Dinh Phuong, Chairman of
Vietnamese-American Community in New York city; Mr. Duong Thanh Khiet,
Chairman of Vietnamese-American Voter League in New York and Long Island,
Mr. Mai Duc Tri, editor " Cong Thuong" Magazine, Mr. Tran Giao,
former Chairman of Vietnamese-American Community in New Jersey, Mr. Nguyen
M. Tuynh, Secretary General of Vietnamese-American Community in New Jersey
and Mr. James Clabough Freedom activist.
The symposium was moderated by Ms. Hong-Lien Nguyen and Ms. Angel Nguyen,
a law student at Pace University
Ms. Hong-Lien gave a brief overview about Vietnamese history since
colonialism to 1975 when South Vietnam fell into the Communist hands. She
emphasized that, as the theme suggested, this event is about the
conditions of human rights in Vietnam. Then she introduced the panelists
from governmental agencies, academia, and human rights
organizations.
The panel consisted of 5 members: Mr. John W. Tai, Policy Analyst of US
Commission on International Religious Freedom, Mr. Joseph Saunders, Deputy
Asia Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW); Mr. Chau Nguyen, Secretary of
the Overseas Hoa Hao Buddhist Association; Mr. James D. Wulff,
International Relations Officer, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and
Labor of the U.S. State Department; Professor Ngo Trong Vinh of
University of California and Professor Moss Roberts of New York
University. However, Professor Ngo could not attend due to severe weather
condition in California, and Professor Roberts to his personal reasons.
Joseph Saunders, Deputy Asia Director of Human Rights Watch, began his
presentation on the situation of human rights with the silencing of
dissent in Vietnam. The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has employed all
sorts of method to silence dissent ranging from isolation, intimidation,
to imprisonment. Saunders noted that even though the CPV has somewhat
eased restrictions on other daily activities such as travel,
business; however, there was no improvement in human rights, which was
reflected in 4 focal points: (1) repression of dissent, (2) control of
media, (3) land and labor issues, and (4) religious freedom.
On repression of dissent, the CPV maintains the strict control of freedom
of expression, even peaceful, constructive critique of the government had
very few outlet to express. Communication between the dissidents and the
outside was hampered by official interception of mails, phone lines, and
denial of publishing right. Saunders also noted that the CPV employed laws
to repress dissidents as in the Administrative Detention Decree permitting
the government to detain anyone without warrant. Victims of this decree
are, among others, Geologist Nguyen Thanh Giang, who was detained in 1989,
and Biologist Ha Si Phu.
On control of the media, domestic media were under strict government
control. No private ownership of media was allowed. Recently, a press law
in 1999, allowed the media to be sued for defamation whether the published
story was true or not. Moreover, the Ministry of Culture published a list
of activities that are deemed offensive to Vietnamese cultures. The
current list comprised 600 culturally inappropriate activities in
comparison to only 200 such activities in previous years. Foreign based
journalists also received warnings of violating such laws. The government
also controls the only Internet access provider in compliance with
national security provisions.
On Land and Labor issues, corruption and abuse of power are rampant at all
levels of government. The people have no way to get their grievances
redressed legally and peacefully would have to resort to violent
demonstrations as in Thai Binh province and Xuan Loc. Together with the
corruption and abuse of power are the unfair taxation system and mandatory
labor contribution.
Saunders noted that on religious freedom, it was across the board policy
that every religion in Vietnam must operate under the umbrella of
state-sponsored religious organizations.
To conclude, Joseph Saunders remarked that Human Rights Watch is not
allowed to enter Vietnam officially as an organization to conduct, observe
and report on human rights conditions in Vietnam. Human Rights Watch
members can only enter Vietnam under tourist visa. To gather information
HRW conducts interview of people coming out of Vietnam, and this is a
severe limitation on the reliability of the sources. Saunders noted
further that it is difficult to establish connection with any group in
Vietnam because it is hard to distinguish which group is really an
independent one.
The second panelist was Mr. John W. Tai of the US Commission on
International Religious Freedom. His presentation was a reflection of an
on-going project that the Commission is doing on human rights conditions
in Vietnam. However, it has not reached a definitive conclusion for a
specific policy recommendation yet.
Over the past years the conditions of religious freedom in Vietnam were
poor, Tai said, even though the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's
constitution guaranteed freedom of religion and belief. The state
continues to hamper this freedom as indicated in the decrees and secret
internal documents recently released by Freedom House. According to some
information, the state 's supression of religious freedom has been
more subtle, but it continues to manifest very clearly certain
restrictions and in many cases abuses of religious freedoms. For instance,
the government still prohibits religious activities that are not
affiliated with six officially recognized religions. Even the
state-sponsored churchs must follow some restrictions in
distributing religious literatures, training, ordination, and in other
important aspects of religious organizations such as charity, or
social works. In the 2000 Report of Religious Freedom, the CPV has
activily discouraged participation of religious groups that are not
approved by the government. The groups includes the Unified Buddhist
Church of VN (UBCV), Protestant group, Cao Dai group, and Hoa Hao group.
The government continues to jam radio broadcast from abroad.
On Sept 26, 2000, reports confirmed by the government that 5 Hoa Hao
buddhists have been imprisoned since March 28, 2000 for filing complaints
against police brutality and abuse of power. They were tried and charged
with defaming the government, abusing democracy, and sentenced to prison
terms from 1 to 3 years. Regarding the UBCV, the supreme patriarch remains
in virtually pagoda arrest; the venereable Thich Quang Do has been
prevented from distributing relief aids to flood victims.
On Novemebr 19, 2000, the same day the US President was in Ho Chi Minh
city, the security police broke up a quiet worship service in the
Protestant church of the Reverend Nguyen Hien. The bibles were
confiscated, individuals attended the meeting were threatened, and Rev.
Hien was sent to police station for further investigation.
Cao Dai believers were also detained arbitrarily. In Oct 1998, 2 Cao
Daists who sought to meet with the UN Specialist on Religious Intolerance,
were imprisoned for 2 years. There are others still in prison.
Catholic church may have enjoyed somewhat less restriction, but recently
we have reports of a Catholic priest who had been on hunger strike in the
Central region of Vietnam.
The Commission on International Religious Freedom gathers information from
conversations and reports by religious communities and human rights
organizations, NGO, as well as from Vietnamese religious organizations as
Hoa Hao, the UBCV. The reliability of the sources is of utmost concern to
the Commission in formulating recommendations to the US Congress on policy
about religious freedom.
The next panelist is Mr. Chau Nguyen, Secretary of the Overseas Hoa Hao
Buddhist Association, presented reports on the suppression of the Hoa Hao
Buddhist Church by the CPV. Nguyen began with a brief overview of Hoa Hao
Buddhism, and its evolution in the history of Vietnam. The Hoa Hao church,
like other religious groups, has been under government suppression, and
particularly outlawed since 1975. Until May 1999, the People Committee of
An Giang Province established a state section of Hoa Hao Buddhist
Representative Board whose basic functions are to oversee all Hoa Hao
Buddhist activities. All board members are CPV cadres. However, Hoa Hao
buddhists only recognize Mr. Le Quang Liem, 80 years old as the current
legitimate leader of Hoa Hao religion.
Nguyen described the suppression of the Hoa Hao Church by the state in
chronological order: Sept 26, 2000, 5 Hoa Hao members were imprisoned for
abusing democracy, slandering the government when they filed complaint
against graft and corruption of government officials. On November 17-19,
2000, during President Clinton visit, all Hoa Hao leaders were put under
house arrest, and a decree was issued that no Hoa Hao Buddhist was allowed
to travel near HCM city from the 17 th to the 20 th of November. On
December 7, 2000, from An Giang, Mr. Ha Hai, Secretary General of Hoa Hao,
was detained while trying to go to HCM city for medical treatment. He was
escorted back to An Giang and imprisoned. He just initiated a hunger
strike recently.
The last panelist was Mr. James D. Wulff from Bureau of Democracy, Human
Rights and Labor of the U.S. State Department. Wulff reported that State
Department has an annual human rights dialogue with Vietnam. The
last session was in June 2000. State Department used outside sources and
found out that they are reliable and raised these issues, which include
all decrees, human rights, religious freedoms, political and religious
prisoners, labor rights, freedom of expression including internet access,
and the rights of ethnic minority.
In the dialogue with Vietnam, Wulff said, the State Department framed the
discussion in terms of Vietnam compliance with international human right
instruments. The Department also emphasized that it is on Vietnam's
interest to strengthen rule of law with respect to individual rights,
especially at the time when Vietnam is undertaking far-reaching legal
reform in attempt to make business environment more transparent and
conducive to foreign investment. Vietnam, on the other hand, raised the
issues that concern Vietnam as the Orange Agent, and human rights problems
in the United States.
In the dialogues with Vietnam, the State Department has raised the
following issues regarding human rights with Vietnam:
* Press Vietnam on the issue and status of political and religious
prisoners;
* Ask Vietnam to grant permission for return visit of the UN working group
on arbitrary detention and extend the invitation for ICRC-a group that
visits prisons;
* Press Vietnam to adopt procedures in notifying, as a matter of routine,
family members about the whereabouts of their imprisoned relatives, and
informing family members when the prisoners are moved;
* Repeal or substantially amend the Administrative Detention Decree
(Decree 31/CP), which is inconsistent with the provision of the
international governance on civil and political rights;
* Allow international observers to observe trials in Vietnamese courts and
allow greater access to interested persons in Vietnam;
* Request Vietnam to revise recently passed Press Law to exclude
provisions that make journalist responsible for negative consequences of
their story. This provision is inconsistent with provisions on freedom of
press on Universal Declaration and ICCPR;
* Urge Vietnam to allow independent news papers to operate, to remove
restriction on access to internet, to restrain from blocking radio news
broadcast such as those from VOA, RFV, etc.;
* Press Vietnam to broaden recognition of religions, not only to those
recognized by the government, but to each religious denomination;
* Urge Vietnam to lift restriction on the printing and teaching religious
material and on training clergy;
* Urge Vietnam to permit greater freedom to the supreme patriarch of UBCV
-The Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang was still in pagoda arrest, as well
as allow visit to the patriarch by US religious leaders and medical
personnels.
* Press Vietnam to observe ILO convention on labor issues and prevention
of child labor.
Mr. Wulff also observed that over the past years, Vietnam has made some
positive moves expanding religious freedom; however, the repression of
religion continues, and the State Department has been regularly raising
concerns in high level contact with the Vietnamese last year in Washington
and in Hanoi.
Mr. James Wulff's report concluded the presentation of the symposium
panel.
The symposium was continued with the "Questions and Answer"
session for an hour between the participants and the
panelists.
The questions were raised by an audiance composing of American and foreign
businessmen, scholars, Vietnamese Community leaders and young Vietnamese
students.
Ms. Angel Nguyen, the young law student, wrapped up with the closing
remarks that the conditions of human rights in Vietnam 25 years under the
Vietnamese communist government need to be improved and that all the
Vietnamese Human Rights organizations should promote greater awareness in
the general public on the violation of human rights.
The "Question and Answer" session was followed by a Vietnamese
buffet and the event ended at 8:20 p.m.
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