IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 447 

Condemning the recent convictions and sentencing of Vietnamese pro-democracy activists, expressing concern over the future of the United StatesVietnam relationship, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 24, 2007 

Mr. BLUMENAUER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Condemning the recent convictions and sentencing of Vietnamese pro-democracy activists, expressing concern over 

the future of the United States-Vietnam relationship, 

and for other purposes. 

Whereas it is widely recognized that the Government of the 

Socialist Republic of Vietnam had taken steps to improve 

its human rights record in the months before the granting of Permanent Normal Trade Relations to Vietnam by 

the United States and its accession to the World Trade 

Organization in January 2007; 

Whereas Permanent Normal Trade Relations were intended 

to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the 

United States and Vietnam; 


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•HRES 447 IH 

Whereas the strength of the relationship between the United 

States and Vietnam depends on progress towards democracy and respect for human rights and religious freedom 

in Vietnam; 

Whereas since that time, Vietnam has engaged in a crackdown on pro-democracy activists and political dissidents; 

Whereas on May 10, 2007, Huynh Nguyen Dao, Nguyen Bac 

Truyen, and Le Nguyen Sang were sentenced, respectively, to three, four, and five years in prison; 

Whereas on May 11, 2007, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi 

Cong Nhan were sentenced to five and four years in prison, respectively; 

Whereas on May 15, 2007, Tran Quoc Hien was sentenced 

to five years in prison; 

Whereas all of these pro-democracy activists were convicted 

of ‘‘disseminating slanderous and libelous information 

against the State’’; 

Whereas Le Quoc Quan, a former fellow with the National 

Endowment for Democracy, Tran Thuy Trang, and 

Truong Quoc Huy continue to be detained without trial 

for their peaceful political activities; 

Whereas according to Reporters Without Borders, ‘‘It is the 

worst series of arrests and sentences since 2002.’’; 

Whereas these convictions violate Article 69 of the Vietnamese Constitution, which states that ‘‘The citizen shall 

enjoy freedom of opinion and speech, freedom of the 

press, the right to be informed and the right to assemble, 

form associations and hold demonstrations in accordance 

with the provisions of the law.’’; and 


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•HRES 447 IH 

Whereas these convictions are in contravention of the rights 

enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Vietnam is a state party, 

specifically Article 19 (freedom of expression) and Article 

22 (freedom of association); Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) condemns in the strongest terms the con3 victions and sentencing of Tran Quoc Hien, Huynh 

4 Nguyen Dao, Nguyen Bac Truyen, Le Nguyen Sang, 

5 Nguyen Van Dai, and Le Thi Cong Nhan and the 

6 continued detention of Le Quoc Quan, Tran Thuy 

7 Trang, and Truong Quoc Huy by the Government of 

8 the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; 

9 (2) calls for their immediate and uncondi10 tional release and the dropping of all criminal 

11 charges, and for the immediate and unconditional 

12 release of all other political and religious prisoners 

13 in Vietnam; 

14 (3) expresses its concern over the future of 

15 the United States-Vietnam bilateral relationship un16 less Vietnam demonstrates progress towards democ17 racy and respect for human rights and religious free18 dom; and 

19 (4) urges the President to use the upcoming 

20 visit of the President of the Socialist Republic of 

21 Vietnam to the United States as an opportunity to 


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•HRES 447 IH 

1 publicly call for progress towards democracy and re2 spect for human rights and religious freedom in 

3 Vietnam. 

Æ 


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