IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1515 

Calling on the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to uphold and respect basic 

human rights by releasing three women democracy activists, writer Tran 

Khai Thanh Thuy, attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan, and cyber-activist Pham 

Thanh Nghien. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 14, 2010 

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California (for herself and Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of 

California) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Calling on the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to uphold and 

respect basic human rights by releasing three women 

democracy activists, writer Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan, and cyber-activist Pham 

Thanh Nghien. 

Whereas the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 

criminalizes freedom of expression and denies citizens 

their right to assemble, associate, and worship freely; 

Whereas the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 

is designated an enemy of the Internet by human rights 

groups and routinely persecutes bloggers and cyber activists; 


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•HRES 1515 IH 

Whereas the human rights violations are an impediment to 

Vietnam’s socioeconomic development and deepening of 

United States-Vietnam relations; 

Whereas democracy activist and blogger Tran Khai Thanh 

Thuy was detained for nine months in 2007 for supporting peaceful demonstrations against corruption; 

Whereas according to the United States Embassy in Hanoi, 

Ms. Thuy was beaten and arrested again in October 2009 

after publicly expressing support for democracy activists 

on trial; 

Whereas Ms. Thuy was sentenced to three and a half years 

imprisonment for ‘‘physical assault’’ in February 2010; 

Whereas Ms. Thuy is suffering from diabetes and advanced 

tuberculosis and was not granted appropriate medical 

care; 

Whereas attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan was arrested in March 

2007 after calling for freedom of association and multiparty democracy; 

Whereas Ms. Nhan was denied the chance to represent herself in court and went on hunger strikes in order to protest poor conditions in prison; 

Whereas, after three years imprisonment, Ms. Nhan is now 

under house arrest for an additional three years and denied her civil rights; 

Whereas Pham Thanh Nghien, a cyber activist who advocated 

on behalf of landless farmers and Vietnamese fishermen 

attacked by the Chinese navy, was detained in spring 

2008 while protesting the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay; 


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•HRES 1515 IH 

Whereas Ms. Nghien was detained for days without charge 

and was harassed by the security police when she wrote 

an official request to organize a protest; 

Whereas Ms. Nghien was arrested again in September 2008 

and sentenced to four years in prison, followed by three 

years of house arrest; 

Whereas the ‘‘Adopt a Voice of Conscience’’ Campaign was 

launched in the House of Representatives urging Members of Congress to be a voice for the voiceless by standing up for women democracy activists in Vietnam; and 

Whereas it is in the interest of the United States to support 

Vietnamese aspirations for democracy and freedom: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) calls on the President and the Department 

3 of State to use diplomatic pressure to urge the Gov4 ernment of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to up5 hold and respect basic human rights; 

6 (2) calls on the United States Ambassador to 

7 Vietnam to visit Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, Le Thi 

8 Cong Nhan, and Pham Thanh Nghien, ensure their 

9 personal safety, and help provide for necessary med10 ical attention; and 

11 (3) calls on the President and Secretary of 

12 State to directly request the freedom of Tran Khai 

13 Thanh Thuy, Le Thi Cong Nhan, and Pham Thanh 

14 Nghien. 

Æ 


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