Excerpts: Lantos Backs Vietnam Democracy Bill HR 2833
(Hanoi persecutes religious groups says Lantos)Representative Tom Lantos (Democrat of California) urged support September 6 for a bill designed to promote democracy in Vietnam, and criticized Hanoi for its religious persecution.
Lantos, the co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, noting that the House would also be dealing with House Joint Resolution 51, approving nondiscriminatory treatment of products from Vietnam, on the same day, admonished fellow lawmakers that while it is important to promote trade, "it is important to stand up for human rights as well."
Lantos, who as a youth opposed both Nazi and Communist tyranny in Hungary, said no lawmaker should "be under any illusion about the nature of the Vietnamese Government," which he termed an "unrepentant authoritarian regime."
Following are excerpts from Representative Tom Lantos' September 6 speech from the Congressional Record:
(begin excerpts)
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, First, I would like to commend my good friend and distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. SMITH), for introducing this very important legislation and for doggedly pursuing the Vietnam human rights issue, as indeed he has been pursuing so many human rights issues during his entire course of great service to this Nation. I would also like to express my appreciation to the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. HYDE), for moving this legislation so expeditiously.
Madam Speaker, yesterday afternoon I returned from the Durban Conference in South Africa on Racism and Discrimination, as the American delegation was withdrawn by Secretary of State Colin Powell, a decision I fully support.
It is ironic to listen to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. SMITH), outlining in great detail the discrimination and persecution unfolding in Vietnam against religious and ethnic minorities, because Vietnam was not on the agenda at Durban. The Sudan was not on the agenda at Durban, although as we speak, slave trade is taking place in the Sudan.
Afghanistan and the Taliban were not on the agenda in Durban, although we know what happens to individuals who attempt to introduce Christianity into that country. There are few things Afghanistan needs more than some Christian values.
Saudi Arabia was not on the agenda, although the persecution of women continues unabated, discrimination against women continues unabated.
The only country singled out for criticism at the farce which was Durban was the democratic state and our ally in the Middle East, the State of Israel. So the timing of this legislation, as it comes before us, could not be more opportune.
I would like to identify myself with the statements made by the gentleman from New Jersey with respect to all the specific acts of religious and ethnic persecution which unfold in Vietnam. None of us here should be under any illusion about the nature of the Vietnamese Government. According to the State Department's Human Rights Report, the Vietnamese Government is an unrepentant authoritarian regime. True political opposition in that country is not allowed. Freedom of expression does not exist, and Vietnamese are put in prison for good for simply expressing political opinions the government does not approve of.
The Vietnamese Government places the most severe restrictions on the expression of religious beliefs, particularly beliefs in Buddhism, as my good friend and colleague so eloquently outlined.
Madam Speaker, today the House will approve the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade agreement. I support that agreement, but it is critical that we send a signal to Hanoi that the U.S. continues to care about the human rights and the religious freedom situation in Vietnam, not just trade. Passage of the Smith legislation will indicate to the administration and to the Vietnamese Government that the Congress expects to see true progress on the human rights front, and we have not forgotten those Vietnamese who are being persecuted for their religious beliefs or their political views.
The legislation that we are considering will ensure that there is not a rollback in our trade and aid relationship with Vietnam, only a cap on the level of our aid to Vietnam unless decent human rights conditions are created.
It is ironic that this legislation is before us today, because if it were not and if it would be merely a discussion of trade with Vietnam, we ourselves would be engaging in hypocrisy as are the delegates in Durban as we speak. It is important to promote trade. But it is important to stand up for human rights as well. . . .
I urge all of my colleagues to support its passage.
(end excerpts)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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