WRITTEN QUESTION E-1255/03 by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Human rights in Vietnam.
Date: 2003-04-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: UNO, Viet Nam, cooperation policy, diplomatic representation, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, human rights, political prisoner, the EU's international role

C 70 E/36

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

(2004/C 70 E/040)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1255/03

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 April 2003)

Subject: Human rights in Vietnam

Is the Commission aware of the list of political prisoners in Vietnam drawn up by the Liberty Flame
Foundation?

Is the Commission aware of the oppression of political dissidents by the Vietnamese Communist Party in
Hanoi and, in particular, the recent arrest and imprisonment of young dissidents who have criticised the
party on the Internet, for example the attorney Le Chi Quang, the journalist Nguyen Vu Binh and Dr Pham
Hong Son, and dissidents who founded the Democratic Party, such as former colonel Pham Que Duong,
Tran Khue, the journalist Ho Thu and the writer Tran Dung Tien?

Is the Commission prepared to take action to promote freedom of opinion and democracy in Vietnam?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2003)

The Commission would like to confirm to the Honourable Member that it is well aware of the list of
prisoners of conscience established by the Liberty Flame Foundation and of the individual cases referred to
in the question.

The Commission’s policy towards Vietnam is to encourage and support continued progress on human
rights and democratisation, and to raise concerns where abuses occur or were a deterioration in the
situation becomes evident. The Commission works closely with the Member States in monitoring human
rights developments in the country and participates in all Union démarches to the Government of Vietnam
on human rights issues, including those pertaining to the situation of Persons of Concern.

The Commission shares the concerns expressed by the United Nations Human Rights Committee regarding
the shortcomings of the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
in Vietnam. Extensive limitations on the right of freedom of expression in the media have been reported
which are worrying and incompatible with Article 19 of the Covenant. The Commission regrets that the
situation seems to have worsened during 2002. Moreover, the absence of specific legislation on political
parties and the fact that only the Communist Party is permitted remains of concern.

The Union, Commission and Member States, have repeatedly urged the Government of Vietnam to
strengthen its respect for political and religious freedoms, to further strengthen economic and social
freedoms and to create a legal framework for a supportive environment to allow the development of a
strengthened civil society, from which Vietnam would greatly benefit. Commission and Member states
have expressed these requests in their joint declaration at the Consultative Group meeting in Hanoi in
December 2002.

The Commission will continue to follow closely the human rights situation in Vietnam, together with the
Diplomatic Missions of the Member States in Vietnam, and take appropriate action.

(2004/C 70 E/041)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1348/03

by Bill Newton Dunn (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: GATS and privatisation of water services

(10 April 2003)

The EU is now targeting 109 poorer countries with ‘requests’ to privatise their water services.

One problem with external corporations providing water services in developing countries is that this
essential service is an important stage of development in a country, and one of the key indications of a