Date: 2004-05-11
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. and I rise today to support H. Res. 613. recognizingand honoring the tenth anniversary of Vietnam Human Rights.Day. Vietnam Human Rights Day serves as.an important commemoration of the extensive struggle the Vietnamese people have endured for many years in their ongoing fight for basic human rights and freedom. Ten years ago. the United States ended its trade embargo with Vietnam and normalized relations with Hanoi. While the U.S. continues to open -diplomatic relations with Vietnam. we must remember that many issues remain unresolved. including human rights violations. lack of religious freedom. and government corruption. I traveled to Vietnam in 1998 to learn about these issues firsthand. as well as to raise these concerns with highlevel -officials. In addition. the large VietnameseAmerican community in the llth. district. which I represent. continues to update me on continuing concerns. As a member of the Vietnam Caucus. I am dedicated to promoting awareness and public policy debates among the U.S. Congress. the American .public. and the international c6mmunity about the greater need for fundamental human rights in the -Socialist Republic of Vietnam. House Resolution 613 recognizes the important contributions made by Nguyen Dan Que. the author of the Manifesto of the NonViolent Movement for Human Rights. and uncounted numbers of innocent Vietnamese� for their nonviolent struggles for freedom and human.rights. Dr. Que is one of the most vocal advocates for freedom. democracy. and human rights in Vietnam. Since 1975. Dr. Que has.refused to leave Vietnam. and he has turned down an offer to resettle in the United States or to live in .exile. He has consciously* chosen to stay in Vietnam to speak out and de-. fend human dignity and the rights of . all Vietnamese people. He is a profile of courage. . The Vietnamese Communist government has arrested Dr. Que three times for his unrelenting pursuit of human dignity and freedom. He has been imprisoned off and on for nearly 20 years. beginning in 1978 through the present. During Dr. Ques captivity. he was imprisoned without trial. tortured. beaten. and put into solitary confinement in chains. accused of trying to overthrow the government. charged with espionage. and is now being held in strict incommunicado. Undaunted. during his time he remained the strongest voice inside Vietnam -for equality and dignity. On May 11. 1990. Dr. Que founded the Nonviolent Movement For Human Rights. issuing a manifesto that appealed to individuals and groups inside Vietnam and throughout the world for support of his moderate. nonviolent struggle to establish human rights for all Vietnamese people. The arrests of Dr. Que. along with many others. demonstrate the ongoing human rights abuses and lack of religious freedom in Vietnam. We must continue to bring attention to these issues. generate pressure on Vietnamese officials. and hold the Vietnamese Government accountable. .It is only through the hard work and effort of individuals such as Dr. Que and the support of the international community that we can bring an end to human rights abuses and religious persecution in Vietnam. My resolution urges all Americans to share in the commemoration of Vietnam Human Rights Day and to have a greater appreciation of the role it has played in helping to defend and further the liberties and freedom of all Vietnamese people. I am hopeful H. Res. 613 will serve as a small stepping stone towards the ultimate liberation and freedom of the Vietnamese people. However. at the least. I believe it will bring much needed additional awareness to the atrocities committed by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam every day on its own citizens. I urge my colleagues to join me in the passage of this important resolution.