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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1515 Introduced in House (IH)]

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;
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 multi-party 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;
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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on the President and the Department of State to 
        use diplomatic pressure to urge the Government of the Socialist 
        Republic of Vietnam to uphold and respect basic human rights;
            (2) calls on the United States Ambassador to Vietnam to 
        visit Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, Le Thi Cong Nhan, and Pham Thanh 
        Nghien, ensure their personal safety, and help provide for 
        necessary medical attention; and
            (3) calls on the President and Secretary of State to 
        directly request the freedom of Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, Le Thi 
        Cong Nhan, and Pham Thanh Nghien.
                                 <all>
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