Text: Bereuter on Vietnamese Americans/Human Rights for Vietnam
(July 10 excerpts of speech on H. Con. Res. 322)

Representative Doug Bereuter (Republican of Nebraska) called on fellow lawmakers July 10 to recognize the sacrifices made by Vietnamese Americans who served in the armed forces of the former Republic of Vietnam, and to recognize the efforts of Vietnamese Americans to enhance human rights in Vietnam.

The chairman of the House International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific called for passage of House Concurrent Resolution 322, a resolution he sponsored that memorializes the "enormous casualties, including over 250,000 deaths and more than 750,000 wounded between 1961 and 1975" suffered by South Vietnamese soldiers "for the cause of freedom."

The resolution, which passed, commends "the sacrifices of those who served in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam," and applauded "the contributions of all individuals whose efforts have focused, and continue to focus, international attention on human rights violations in Vietnam."

Bereuter noted that each year on June 19 the Vietnamese-American community commemorates "those who gave their lives in the struggle to preserve the freedom of the former Republic of Vietnam."

Those who fought to preserve the Republic of Vietnam's independence, Bereuter said, "continued to suffer after the fighting ended when many were imprisoned and forced to undergo so-called reeducation."

Many of them, he added, "continue their efforts even now playing an important role in raising international awareness of human rights violations in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam."

Following are excerpts from Bereuter's speech from the Congressional Record:

(begin text)

Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, this Member rises in strong support of H. Con. Res. 322, a resolution that recognizes the sacrifices made by Vietnamese Americans who served in the armed forces of the former Republic of Vietnam. This Member congratulates the efforts of the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) to recognize the Vietnamese who fought bravely side by side with U.S. forces in Vietnam and to applaud all those whose efforts focus international attention on human rights violations in Vietnam. This Member is pleased to be a cosponsor of the legislation.

Each year on June 19, the Vietnamese-American community traditionally commemorates those who gave their lives in the struggle to preserve the freedom of the former Republic of Vietnam. During the war, the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam suffered enormous casualties including over 250,000 killed and more than 750,000 wounded. They continued to suffer after the fighting ended when many were imprisoned and forced to undergo so-called reeducation. They continue their efforts even now playing an important role in raising international awareness of human rights violations in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Moreover, Vietnamese Americans, many of whom arrived as refugees with little but the clothes on their backs, have made tremendous achievements and have contributed greatly to this country.

Earlier this year, this body approved H. Con. Res. 295 on Human Rights and Political Oppression in Vietnam. There was inevitably some duplication in the two initiatives. Therefore this Member, with the concurrence of the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis), the sponsor of the resolution, amended H. Con. Res. 322 only to eliminate duplication. The resolution now focuses on commemorating the service and sacrifices of the former members of the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam.

This Member urges all his colleagues to support this laudable resolution...

Certainly all of us want to work closely with our distinguished former colleague, Ambassador Pete Peterson, and we have been doing that on a variety of programs and votes in this effort here.

We would hope that our policies and actions regarding the government of Vietnam might bring some better results. We have at the current time trade negotiations ongoing in this city, and we hope that, in fact, the kind of response from the Vietnamese will be forthcoming and will result in a better human rights record in Vietnam and an opportunity, therefore, to improve our relationship with that country.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)


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