FLASH NEWS from COMPASS DIRECT

VIET NEWS

THE MONTHLY REPORT OF INTERESTING NEWS ABOUT VIETNAM

***

Courtesy Vietnamese American Concerned Citizens

========================================================================

VIETNAM REVIEW

Bring facts to law and policy makers and the public

News

Commentary

Research paper

For the U.S. Congress - Professional Staff and Legislative Assistants for Foreign Policies and Concerned Citizens

February 2005

1. Vietnam: Action Needed Now to End Religious Persecution 02

2. Senior Aviation Official Commits Suicide To Escape Corruption Scam 04

3. Negotiations On Literary Works Protected By Copyright Enhanced 05

4. Vietnam Has To Conclude Negotiation With U.S. In July 05

5. Vietnam - Thich Huyen Quang Protests Repression Against the UBCV 06

6. VN’s WTO Bid On Right Track: U.S. Official 09

7. Vietnam Expects To Acquire Market Economy Status From EU 10

8. Vietnam Ranks World’s Fourth Largest Shrimp Exporter To U.S. 11

9. New Archbishop Appointed in Hanoi 11

10. Vietnam Affirms Sovereignty Over Hoang Sa And Truong Sa Archipelagoes 11

11. Vietnam Needs Foreign Expertise For Law Reforms To Meet WTO’s Rules 12

12. Vietnam PM Urges Recognition Of Protestants 13

13. Cultural Official Arrested For Assisting Illegal Departures 13

14. Buddhist Monk Thich Thien Minh Speaks Out After 26 Years In Prison 14

15. Condoleezza Rice required to act on Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Eritrea by March 15 16

16. Vietnam Recognizes New Vietnam Protestant Church Leadership 20

17. Vietnam Confirms Open Foreign Policy 20

18. EU Ban Urged On Communist Symbols 21

19. Vietnam Rights Record Under The Spotlight Despite Dissident Released 22

20. Vietnam War Was Won, Then Lost 23

21. Monthly Nha Bao Va Cong Luan Suspended After Two Issues 24

22. A Ray Of Hope For Diplomatic Ties Between The Holy See And Vietnam 25

23. Vietnam's Imprisoned Mennonites Appeal to People’s Supreme Court 26

Vietnamese American Concerned Citizens (VACC)

P.O. Box 59655, Potomac. MD 20859

VietnamReview2004@yahoo.com

Contact: Khai Q. Nguyen

Local contact: …....……….…………………………….

………………………..……………………………………

Vietnam: Action Needed Now to End Religious Persecution

Vietnam Blacklisted as One of the Worst Violators of Religious Rights

For Immediate Release

HRW, New York, February 28, 2005

The U.S. needs to spell out specific actions that Vietnam should take to improve its dismal religious rights record, Human Rights Watch said today in an open letter to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The U.S. is currently engaged in talks with Vietnam over its designation as one of the worst violators of religious rights in the world.

Last September the U.S. State Department designated Vietnam as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for its systematic and egregious abuse of religious freedom under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act. Consultations on religious freedom between the U.S. and Vietnam are slated to end on March 15, 2005. Religious repression in Vietnam was highlighted in the State Department’s own annual human right report, which is being released today.

“Despite a few well-timed goodwill gestures, such as the recent release of several religious prisoners, Vietnam has in all other respects continued its exceptionally repressive policies,” said Brad Adams, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch. “Vietnam is notorious for persecuting and imprisoning believers of religions who attempt to peacefully and independently practice their faith.”

The Vietnamese government imposes strict controls over religious organizations and treats leaders of unauthorized religious groups with intense suspicion, branding many of them as subversives. Targeted in particular are ethnic minority Christians, Mennonites, and members of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV).

Ethnic Hmong Christians in the northwest provinces have been beaten, detained, and pressured by local authorities to renounce their religion and cease religious gatherings. At least ten Hmong Christians remain in detention in Lai Chau and Ha Giang provinces. Recently the military presence in several villages in Lai Chau has increased recently, causing many Hmong Christians to flee from their homes.

In the Central Highlands, the government has increased its repression of Montagnard Christians, particularly those thought to be following “Dega Protestantism.” This is a form of evangelical Christianity, banned by the Vietnamese government, which links it to the Montagnard movement for return of ancestral lands, religious freedom, and self-rule.

Since 2001 more than 180 Montagnard Christians – not only Dega church activists, but pastors, house church leaders, and Bible teachers as well - have been arrested and sentenced to prison, many on charges that they are violent separatists using their religion to “sow divisions among the people” and “undermine state and party unity.” There is no evidence that the Dega church movement has ever advocated violence. By arresting and imprisoning people for their religious beliefs or peaceful expression of their views, Vietnam is in violation of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, to which it is a party.

While one UBCV monk was included in a recent Tet New Year prisoner amnesty, the government continues to persecute UBCV members and withhold any recognition of this group, once the largest organization of the majority religion in the country. Many UBCV members remain confined without charges to their pagodas, which are under strict police surveillance.

Mennonites in Vietnam have also encountered difficulties. Four Mennonites currently remain in prison on charges of resisting police officers after a scuffle broke out in March 2004 with undercover policemen who had been monitoring their Ho Chi Minh City church. On two separate occasions during 2004, officials in Kontum province bulldozed a Mennonite chapel. In September and October 2004, police pressured Mennonites in Kontum and Gia Lai provinces to sign forms renouncing their religion.

While relations between the Vatican and Vietnam have warmed in recent years, at least three Roman Catholics remain in prison, where they are serving long prison sentences for conducting training courses and distributing religious books without government permission. They include sixty-four-year-old Father Pham Minh Tri, who has been imprisoned at Z30A prison in Dong Nai for the last eighteen years, despite suffering dementia for most of the past decade.

As the deadline for finalizing the CPC consultations approaches, earlier this month the Prime Minister issued Instruction No. 01/2005, “Guiding Protestant Religious Organizations.” It outlaws attempts by officials to force Protestant to abandon their religion, a practice Human Rights Watch has documented among ethnic minority Christians for years.

However, as with the Ordinance on Beliefs and Religion passed last year, this latest directive continues to require religious organizations to obtain government permission in order to operate, advancing Vietnam’s official stance that religious freedom is a privilege to be requested and granted by the government, rather than a fundamental human right.

“Hanoi needs to commit itself to deep-seated reform and meaningful action, rather than token gestures,” said Adams. “There are hundreds of religious prisoners waiting for release, and thousands more people waiting for the right to express their beliefs and practice their faith.”

The International Religious Freedom Act offers the President a menu of options to address abuses in countries designated as CPC, ranging from public condemnation, limiting certain kinds of assistance, to full sanctions. In addition to Vietnam, countries designated as CPC this year include China, Burma, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and Eritrea.

“The Bush Administration needs to send a strong message to the Vietnamese government that the U.S. will not tolerate this kind of persecution,” said Adams. “The U.S. should make sure that any pledges made during these consultations are backed up by prompt action on the part of the Vietnamese authorities.”

Proposed Benchmarks

The current talks between the U.S. and Vietnam aim to outline specific steps for Vietnam to take to improve its record on religious freedom, thereby avoiding stronger penalties by the U.S., including economic sanctions.

Human Rights Watch proposes that the State Department should make sure that the government of Vietnam has taken the following concrete steps as it evaluates Vietnam’s progress in improving its respect for religious freedom:

§ Allow independent religious organizations to freely conduct religious activities and govern themselves. Churches and denominations that do not choose to join one of the officially-authorized religious organizations whose governing boards are under the control of the government should be allowed to independently register with the government.

§ Release or grant amnesty to all people imprisoned or detained because of their non-violent religious beliefs and practices.

§ Investigate and punish those responsible for all instances of violence against religious believers, including by civilians acting in concert with government officials. Such incidents include the violent suppression of the April 2004 protests by Montagnards in the Central Highlands, and reports of torture, beatings, and killings of ethnic minority Protestants in both the central and northern highlands.

§ Investigate reports of suppression of Protestants, including arbitrary detention of Mennonites and evangelical Christians. Those responsible for these violations should be brought to justice.

§ Ensure that all domestic legislation addressing religious affairs is brought in conformity with international law, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Amend provisions in domestic law that criminalizes certain religious activities on the basis of imprecisely-defined “national security” crimes.

§ Amend the 2004 Ordinance on Beliefs and Religion to include a provision that prohibits forced renunciation ceremonies by government officials, linked to specific disciplinary measures for offenders.

§ Permit outside experts, including those from the United Nations and independent international human rights organizations, to have access to religious followers in Vietnam, including members of denominations not officially recognized by the government.

§ Invite the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance, the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture to visit Vietnam to investigate violations of religious freedom and other rights abuses committed against members of churches that are not officially sanctioned by the government.

For the full text of Human Rights Watch’s letter to Secretary Rice, see:

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/02/28/vietna10217.htm

For more information, please contact:

In London, Brad Adams: + 44-7960-844-996

In Washington D.C., Veena Siddharth: +202 612 4341

In New York, Minky Worden: +212 216 1250

In Brussels, Jean-Paul Marthoz (French):

+32-2-732-2009

Senior Aviation Official Commits Suicide To Escape Corruption Scam

Vietnam News Briefs

February 28, 2005

The former leader of Vietnam's Central Airports Authority, who is currently involved in a major corruption scandal, burned himself at his office in the central city of Danang on February 26, local media report.

Nguyen Lai, former general director of CAA, was taken to Hospital C in Danang at 4pm last Saturday. Doctors said he was seriously burned and in a critical condition. On the following day, Mr. Lai was brought by air to Hanoi for treatment at the Central Burn Institute.

"As I have just been informed, it is possible that Mr. Lai will survive," said Pham Van Thanh, vice general director of CAA.

Before Mr. Thanh was found burned at his office, he had a meeting with the authority's Party committee, Mr. Thanh said.

"Previously, we realized Mr. Lai had shown signs of depression and assigned staff to take care of and encourage him. But we were too busy... We don't know why there was petrol at his office," he said.

Nguyen Lai, his deputy Dong Huu Nghiem, and Do Ngoc Tuan, director of a CAA-owned company, were suspended from their positions early this month following accusations of misappropriating VND23.7 billion from the CAA budget for illegal land purchases.

Mr. Lai was also blamed for using the State budget to buy two modern BMW and Mercedes cars worth more than $ 125,000 for himself and his deputy after being appointed to be the General Director of the CAA two years ago.

Following the decision on the suspension, the transport ministry requested the three high-ranking officials to recover the misused money immediately and said it would consider appropriate punishments for these officials.

This is among the very first corruption cases detected in Vietnam since the beginning of this year, showing the determination of the Communist-ruled country to fight such an evil that has slowed down its development for a long time.

Negotiations On Literary Works Protected By Copyright Enhanced

Thai Press Reports

February 28, 2005

Section: Regional News - Vietnamese publishers and educational organisations have met foreign publishing house representatives to negotiate conditions for a licence to translate a number of literary works into Vietnamese.

These conditions were put forward at a seminar on "Translation and Reprinting of literary works protected by copyright" in HCM City on Feb. 24.

Participants discussed procedures for granting publishing licences and the current challenges in granting licences for the translation of US book titles.

The seminar aimed to enhance Vietnam's endeavours to abide by the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. –

Vietnam Has To Conclude Negotiation With U.S. In July

Thursday, February 24, 2005

By Cam Ha

On VN Express: and Tuoi Tre Online:

Virginia Foote – President of the U.S. – Vietnam Trade Council has shown her optimism on the prospect of the bilateral negotiation in June-July this year, which helps Vietnam to move forward to enter the WTO later this year.

As Mrs. Foote anticipates, the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference in December is an appropriate time for Vietnam to conclude negotiations. Vietnam can be joining WTO in few months later, or early 2006, when all the negotiation procedures finished. This also means that Vietnam needs to speed up its negotiations before December, including big countries as U.S., Japan, Canada, New Zealand, China…

The negotiation with the U.S. will likely be concluded in June – July, on occasion of the visit of Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai. U.S. is now considering the latest offer that Vietnam just submitted several weeks ago. Two sides have planned to meet again in March. “It would probably be more difficult if the negotiations are not finished before the Prime Minister’s trip”, as Mrs. Foote remarked.

According to Mrs. Foote, U.S.- Vietnam negotiation on Vietnam’s WTO accession is pretty different from Vietnam – EU one. It relates to some traditional issues that U.S. usually negotiates with other countries, such as tariff, services and implementation of WTO regulations. “I assume there are 30-40 countries negotiate with Vietnam on tariff with their very different requirements. It would be difficult to estimate how the requirement on tariff, nor comment on the variable different of Vietnam’s commitments with U.S., Australia or New Zealand”, Mrs. Foote said.

In order to conclude negotiation with Vietnam, U.S. Congress has to vote by this fall, on whether it will waive the amendment of Jackson – Vanik and grant Vietnam the PNTR. The vote does not only consider the aspect of U.S. - Vietnam trade relations but also consider other issues like MIA, human rights, religious freedom etc…

However, the charming President of the Trade Council is quite optimistic that Vietnam and the U.S. will conclude negotiation in 2005 as the last chapter of the normalization between the two countries. “There is no doubt that joining the WTO will help Vietnam overcoming many issues. Textile is an example. I estimate that Vietnam’s textile export to U.S. will be double when not applying quotas. The Prime Minister’s visit to U.S. will also be a great affect beside the Vietnam’s strong commitment”, she said.

Vietnam - Thich Huyen Quang Protests Repression Against the UBCV

International Buddhist Information Bureau

(Bureau International D'information Bouddhiste)

Official information service of Vien Hoa Dao, Unified Buddhist church of

Vietnam B.P. 63 - 94472 Boissy Saint Léger cedex (France) - Tel.: Paris

(331) 45 98 30 85 Fax : Paris (331) 45 98 32 61 - E-mail :

ubcv.ibib@buddhist.com Web : http://www.queme.net/

For immediate release

Paris, 23 February 2005

Buddhist Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang calls for freedom of movement for Thich Quang Do and the lifting of "verbal" house arrest orders

The Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang, 86, prominent dissident and Fourth Supreme Patriarch of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), has sent an "Open Letter" to the Vietnamese leadership denouncing recent harassments of UBCV monks, and condemning the unlawful detention of UBCV Deputy leader Venerable Thich Quang Do and himself under house arrest without charge. The "Open Letter", dated 21 February 2005, comes only days after the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Dzung (18.2.2005) declared that Thich Huyen Quang and Thich Quang Do were "leading their life and practicing religion in normalcy" in their respective Monasteries, and that the reports of harassment was "fabricated information of the so-called International Buddhist Information Bureau".

This "Open Letter", the first that Thich Huyen Quang has sent to the government since he was placed under house arrest in October 2003, was sent clandestinely from the Nguyen Thieu Monastery in Binh Dinh province (central Vietnam) via the International Buddhist Bureau in Paris. It is addressed to Communist Party Secretary Nong Duc Manh, President Tran Duc Luong, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An.

In his letter, Thich Huyen Quang recalled the expectations raised by his landmark meeting with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in Hanoi in April 2003. "Everyone truly hoped this was a sign that the Communist Party and the State had truly changed their policies of repression and discrimination against the UBCV. I shared these sentiments of joy and hope myself", he said.

However, just six months later, on October 9th 2003, the government launched a brutal crackdown, arresting 11 members of the newly appointed UBCV leadership, including Thich Quang Do and himself. "After that, my doubts turned to bitter disappointment. I saw clearly that the government was continuing the same, immutable policy of religious intolerance towards the UBCV and myself that it had pursued since the struggle for independence against the French, when they arrested me in the 5th Interzone. Today, in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, I am still under arrest and their policy remains unchanged".

Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang condemned the recent series of harassments against Venerable Thich Quang Do and other UBCV dignitaries, particularly the ban on them traveling to Binh Dinh to visit him in November 2004 when he was gravely ill, and most recently in February 2005, to offer their New Year greetings for the Lunar New Year (Tet). Security Police had systematically visited all UBCV Pagodas in Saigon to threaten monks against making the trip, he said. These harassments were particularly shocking at a time when "the Communist Party and State has authorized a delegation of several hundred Buddhists from an overseas sect to visit Vietnam with full freedoms of movement and speech. Yet they prevent Buddhist monks who live in Vietnam... from traveling and spreading Buddhist teachings".

Furthermore, Thich Huyen Quang pressed Vietnam to urgently clarify the legal situation of Thich Quang Do and himself. Accused of "possessing state sm ecrets" and placed under house arrest for "investigation" by verbal orders of the local authorities, both men have been detained for over 12 months, beyond the legal limit for investigation. If the government has evidence against them, Thich Huyen Quang said, it should put them on trial. "If we are proven guilty after an impartial hearing, then we shall accept whatever sentence the Court hands down. But if the government has no proof of our guilt, the State must immediately clear us of these spurious charges and restore our full freedoms and rights. We cannot continue living as prisoners in the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery and the Nguyen Thieu Monastery, detained under strict control and surveillance, as we have done for over a year"... (see full text below).

Unified Buddhist Church Of Vietnam

Institute of the Sangha

Buddhist Era 2548

VTT/TT

OPEN LETTER

on the banning of Buddhist monks from paying New Year's visits

and administrative detention by "verbal order"

To : Mr. Nong Duc Manh, Secretary-general of the Communist Party of Vietnam

Mr. Tran Duc Luong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Mr. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Mr. Nguyen Van An, President of the SRV National Assembly

Dear Sirs,

Almost two years have passed since I went to Hanoi for medical treatment and was received by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on 2nd April 2003. This landmark meeting brought great joy and hope to Buddhists at home and abroad, to governments and international friends worldwide. It brought great joy, because never before, in any county in the world, had a Prime Minister held talks with a religious prisoner. Indeed, I was a prisoner then, and I still am today. The meeting also brought hope, because after so many long, dark years living in expectation, everyone truly hoped this was a sign that the Communist Party and State had truly changed their policies of repression and discrimination against the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV). I shared these sentiments of joy and hope myself. I was especially moved by the Prime Minister's reply to my question on why the government had persistently repressed the UBCV for the past 30 years. He confided: "At first, we had many shortcomings and made many mistakes. But from now on, we will gradually put everything right. Most Venerable, please be compassionate and forgiving". When he said that, I let him understand that I was ready to forgive everything that had happened in the past.

However, just six months later, on 8-9 October, the events of Binh Dinh and Luong Son took place and I was intercepted and arrested by the Police along with several other UBCV leaders. After that, my doubts turned to bitter disappointment. I saw clearly that the government was continuing the same, immutable policy of religious intolerance towards the UBCV and myself that it had pursued since the struggle for independence against the French, when they arrested me in the 5th Inter-zone. Today, in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, I am still under arrest and their policy remains unchanged.

At the end of last year, I fell gravely ill. Venerable Thich Quang Do tried to come and visit me in hospital with a delegation of UBCV monks from Saigon, but Police intercepted them and forbade them from making the trip. Then came the Lunar New Year (Têt), which is a time of family reunion for all Vietnamese, a moment of happiness after a hard year's work, and an occasion for people to visit their relatives and friends. I was very grieved to learn that Venerables Thich Quang Do, Head of the UBCV's Executive Institute (Vien Hoa Dao), Thich Duc Chon, member of the UBCV Council of Sages, Thich Vien Dinh, Deputy Head of Vien Hoa Dao and other Buddhist monks were once again prevented from traveling to Nguyen Thieu Monastery in Binh Dinh province to pay me a New Year's visit. I hear that the local authorities and Police in Binh Thanh, Go Vap, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc districts etc. [Saigon] systematically called on all UBCV Pagodas to warn monks against traveling to Binh Dinh. They advanced vague pretexts such as: "the situation in the province is delicate and unstable", or totally absurd arguments like: "hostile elements are trying to take advantage of the situation to organize a delegation to visit the Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang in Binh Dinh. If anyone invites you to go, you must refuse because the State will not tolerate this visit". Venerable Thich Quang Do's telephone has been cut off since that date.

In Vietnam, the act of paying respects to one's elders and visiting family during the Têt is an ancient feature of our culture, and we should maintain this good tradition. I therefore solemnly call upon the Communist Party and the State to investigate this affair and find out exactly who banned Venerable Thich Quang Do and his delegation from traveling to Binh Dinh, and for what reason. If the ban was justified, the Party and State should explain the reason publicly to Vietnamese Buddhists at home and abroad, and to international opinion, in order to dispel people's concerns that the State was arbitrarily persecuting the UBCV and depriving its members of their right to freedom of movement and peaceful assembly, as guaranteed in the Vietnamese Constitution and United Nations' human rights treaties. On the contrary, if the ban was unjustified, then Party and State should immediately contact Venerable Thich Quang Do at the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery in Saigon and affirm that he and other UBCV dignitaries are fully free to travel and visit whosoever they wish. If you do this, you will be proving that the government's slogan "Living and working according to the Law" is not just an empty phrase, but a principle that applies to the daily lives of every Vietnamese citizen.

I find these restrictions particularly shocking since they come at a time when the Communist Party and State has authorized a delegation of several hundred Buddhists from an overseas sect to visit Vietnam with full freedoms of movement and speech. Yet they prevent Buddhist monks who live in Vietnam and adhere to the historic, traditional Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, from traveling and spreading Buddhist teachings.

Dear Sirs,

I also take this opportunity to demand the government's accountability on the situation of Venerable Thich Quang Do and myself. We were both placed under house arrest by "verbal orders" on 9th October 2003 after the events of Luong Son (Nhatrang), and we have been held under detention since then. I heard the government spokesman telling the international media that Venerable Thich Quang Do and I are accused of "possessing State secrets". If the government has proof of our guilt, it should produce evidence and put us both on trial, guaranteeing our access to defence lawyers and the due process of law. If we are proven guilty after a fair and impartial hearing, then we shall accept whatever sentence the Court hands down. If, on the contrary, the government has no proof of our guilt, then the State must immediately clear us of these spurious charges and restore our full freedoms and rights. We cannot continue living as prisoners in the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery and the Nguyen Thieu Monastery, detained under strict control and surveillance, as we have done for over a year.

The Vietnamese Criminal Procedures Code (Article 10) stipulates that "no person will be held guilty and punished until a judgment of guilty of a court has come into legal force". The Code also states (Article 71) that "detention whilst awaiting investigation" must not exceed a maximum period of 12 months. When this period has expired, "the detained person must be released". In our case, this period expired over four months ago. I sincerely hope, Sirs, that you will discharge your duties in accordance with the law and settle the points raised in this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Nguyen Thieu Monastery,

Binh Dinh Province, 21 February 2005

Fourth Supreme Patriarch

Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam

(signature and seal)

Bikkhu Thich Huyen Quang

VN’s WTO Bid On Right Track: U.S. Official

Feb 24, 2005 – VNS

President of the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council, Virginia B. Foote, said on Friday that she was upbeat about the prospect of Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) this December.

"In order for Vietnam to join the WTO at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong this December, there is quite a lot of work that needs to be done, however I am still optimistic," said Foote. The country's accession would be good for both the U.S. and Vietnamese businesses and relations, she added.

It will be a busy year for Vietnam, Foote said, emphasizing that the biggest problem is the scope and transparency of its legal system, regulations, processes, and standards.

As for the Vietnam-U.S. bilateral negotiation, Foote said, talks between the two countries have been on-going and that there will be another round or two this spring as well as others in Geneva. The Ministry of Trade said that the opening of service markets will be the hot issue in these talks.

Foote also remarked that there is promise for future bilateral trade and investment between the two countries if Vietnam can be a WTO member starting in January 2006.

"There are no miracles for trade and investment, but I think accession to the WTO will be a new important factor," Foote concluded. (VNS)

Vietnam Expects To Acquire Market Economy Status From EU

Vietnam News Briefs

February 22, 2005

Vietnam is hoping the European Union will recognize the country as a market economy as soon as possible, the Ministry of Trade said on February 21.

The Trade Ministry is working on a detailed report of market economy regulations for submission to the EU so that the EU will officially recognize Vietnam as a market economy in the near future, a trade ministry official said.

Vietnam had filed a request to the EU for market economy status three years ago, the official said. Last year, the trade ministry sent a preliminary report on the country's legal system and economic situation to the EU for consideration, based on five EU criteria, to determine if the Vietnamese economy was ran on market principles.

Recently, the EU Trade Commission sent a letter to Vietnam Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen, saying it had examined the report and required more detailed reports, the official said.

"The issue is expected to be discussed in an upcoming meeting of the EU-Vietnam Joint Commission," he added.

"There have been positive signs that Vietnam is able to meet the EU requirements."

If Vietnam gains market economy status from the EU, Vietnamese businesses will be able to enjoy favorable conditions in trade disputes, particularly anti-dumping lawsuits. In 2002, Vietnam had also asked the US to recognize the country as a market economy within the framework of the US catfish dumping petition, but it was not successful.

Vietnam Ranks World’s Fourth Largest Shrimp Exporter To U.S.

Vietnam News Briefs

February 21, 2005

Vietnam has become the world's fourth largest shrimp exporter to the US after Thailand, China and India even though its export shipments to the country were down in 2004, the Ministry of Fisheries quoted its foreign source US Customs Service as saying.

Last year, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the American market hit 36,400 tons, mainly frozen shrimp, down 36% from the previous year due to the serious affects of the US shrimp anti-dumping lawsuit, the ministry said.

Thailand still remained the largest exporter with 124,300 tons of shipped shrimp, followed by China with 65,200 tons and India with 40,700 tons. The total figure of shrimp exports to the US in 2004 reached 517,560 tons, up 2% from 2003.

Analysts predict that Vietnam's shrimp exports to the market will rebound to 2003's figures or even higher as the final anti-dumping tariffs on Vietnam's shrimp exports imposed by the US Department of Commerce (DoC) are lower than the preliminary ruling.

Last December, the DOC upheld the imposition of penalty taxes on shrimp imports from Vietnam, saying the country sold shrimp to the US at below-market prices. But, the DOC did lower the penalty tariffs to 4.13% to 25.76% from its July preliminary ruling, which levied tariffs at 12.11% to 93.13%.

New Archbishop Appointed in Hanoi

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=66622

Date: 2005-02-20

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 20, 2005 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II named Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet as the new archbishop of Hanoi, Vietnam, reported the Vatican press office.

The new archbishop is replacing Cardinal Paul Joseph Pham Dinh Tung, 85, now retired.

Archbishop Quang Kiet, 52, was ordained a priest in 1991, and was bishop of Lanson and Cao Bang since 1999. He had been also the apostolic administrator in Hanoi since 2003.

Of the 6 million inhabitants of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, 5.1% are Catholics.

The Holy See also announced the appointment of Bishop Francois Xavier Le Van Hong as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Hue.

About 6 million of Vietnam's 82 million inhabitants are Catholic. About 50 million are Buddhists.

Innovative Media, Inc.

For reprint permission, please contact: infoenglish@zenit.org .

Vietnam Affirms Sovereignty Over Hoang Sa And Truong Sa Archipelagoes

Thai Press Reports

February 18, 2005

Viet Nam has sufficient historical evidence and legal foundation to affirm its indisputable sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Le Dung reiterated in Ha Noi on Feb. 17.

Responding to a question posed by Viet Nam News Agency and Tuoi tre (Youth) newspaper correspondents regarding Viet Nam's reaction to a report that China has begun extensively researching the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, the spokesperson said Viet Nam's position on the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes has been clearly stated many times.

"Any act taken by another country against these two archipelagoes without Viet Nam's approval is a violation of Viet Nam's sovereignty and sovereign rights to these areas," he stressed.

Vietnam Needs Foreign Expertise For Law Reforms To Meet WTO’s Rules

Vietnam News Briefs

February 17, 2005

Vietnam will need to hire foreign experts to help modify laws and regulations if the country wants to join World Trade Organization in December this year, a senior government advisor said Wednesday.

Nguyen Xuan Thang, director of Vietnam's World Economic and Politic Institute, told the Vietnam Financial Times newspaper which is published by the Finance Ministry, that because investment is key to the country's economic growth, "It's a constant task for the authorities to improve the investment environment, and transparency in the country's legal framework is prerequisite," he said.

"Unlike other countries such as Laos, Cambodia or Mianma whose development is mainly depended on cheap labor, resources and land availability, Vietnam's growth is primely based on the investment drive, which only becomes effective if the country's investment policies are transparent," Thang said.

As time is soon running out because the country's leaders have insisted that Vietnam should join the WTO by December this year, "We must considering to hire foreign experts who can help speed up our legal reforms because we need to change up to 200 laws in the coming time," he noted.

Current law-making procedures are very cumbersome and the local authorities would need more than five years to be able to pass new laws which meet WTO's entry conditions, he added.

He called for substantial awareness from the authorities on the necessity to build a positive image for Vietnam, making it "the country of proactive integration."

He also warned that if the government of Vietnam continues maintaining their economic-social policies, the country's GDP growth will hardly meet the 8.5% target set by the lawmakers for this year.

"For example, our investment effectiveness remains low - we have to invest $ 5.6 to generate $ 1 of profit, while in other countries they often spend $ 3 for $ 1," Thang said.

Vietnam started negotiating with WTO members in 1995, but the country was only indicating a real interest for its future membership from 2003. It needs to complete negotiations with 21 countries - including China and the U.S - before June.

Vietnam PM Urges Recognition Of Protestants

Vietnam News Briefs

February 17, 2005

Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has asked relevant offices in the communist country to continue to recognize Protestant organizations that meet the conditions required by law.

In his first instruction issued in the year 2005, Khai asked relevant offices to initially recognize branches of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam that satisfy such conditions. He also told the authorities to create favorable conditions for these branches to build places of worship, and to train and appoint dignitaries.

As for Protestant organizations and denominations which do not meet the legal requirements and are still not recognized by the State, the PM said authorities should help them register their activities with local governments, so long as these activities are purely religious.

Currently there are two major Protestant organizations recognized in Vietnam - the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (in the North) and the General Confederation of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (in the South).

Also in his Instruction No.1/2005, PM Khai asked relevant authorities and organizations to help Protestants to boost socio-economic and cultural development and encourage them to contribute to the country's development and security.

Last year, the State recognized 36 Protestant branches in Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), according to Deputy Head of the government's Committee for Religious Affairs Nguyen Thanh Xuan.

Protestantism is one of the six religious sects officially recognized in Vietnam. It is estimated to have nearly one million followers. The other five religions are Buddhism, Catholicism, Caodaism, Hoa Hao, and Islam.

The communist administration in Vietnam repeatedly insists the presence and full protection of religious freedom in the country despite numerous criticisms from overseas.

Cultural Official Arrested For Assisting Illegal Departures

Vietnam News Briefs

February 17, 2005

A high-ranking official of a company owned by the Ministry of Culture and Information was arrested on February 15 in Hanoi following accusations of allegedly assisting Vietnamese to illegally take up residence in another country.

Tong Xuan Thu, 33, chief of the Central Fine Arts Company (CFAC)'s import-export department, was alleged to have helped citizens exit Vietnam illegally, according to police.

As a senior official of the company, Mr. Thu had recruited a number of employees and helped them flee to European countries, while saying they were on missions to organize fine arts exhibitions and tradeshows, police said.

The police also reportedly seized documents and papers related to the case with the signatures and seals of several CFAC officials.

Organizing exhibitions and tradeshows to promote Vietnam's cultures to the world was a sound strategy of the CFAC, confirmed a company leader. But Mr. Thu was the one who used these programs to facilitate the illegal aliens. He, therefore, must face justice, the leader said.

The official also said the company is conducting its own probe to clear whether the scandal was the result of mismanagement. Other company officials could be implicated in the case, he said.

The police is now conducting further investigation into the case.

Buddhist Monk Thich Thien Minh Speaks Out After 26 Years In Prison

INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST INFORMATION BUREAU

(BUREAU INTERNATIONAL D'INFORMATION BOUDDHISTE)

Official information service of Vien Hoa Dao, Unified Buddhist church of Vietnam B.P. 63 - 94472 Boissy Saint Léger cedex (France) - Tel.: Paris (331) 45 98 30 85 Fax : Paris (331) 45 98 32 61 - E-mail : ubcv.ibib@buddhist.com Web : http://www.queme.net/

For immediate release

Paris, 7 February 2005

"As long as there is no true freedom, democracy or human rights in Vietnam, the whole 80-million Vietnamese people, including myself, will be condemned to live like shadows..."

Buddhist monk Thich Thien Minh speaks out after 26 years in prison

Thich Thien Minh, secular name Huynh Van Ba, 51, was released in a government amnesty on 2, February 2005. A member of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), former Superior monk of Vinh Binh Pagoda in Bac Lieu, southern Vietnam, Thich Thien Minh was detained for 26 years for his support of the banned UBCV. He spent long terms in solitary confinement, chained by the hands and feet, because of his protests against the ill-treatment and poor detention conditions of his fellow inmates. Just after he arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, Thich Thien Minh spoke to the International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) by telephone before paying a brief visit to UBCV Deputy leader Thich Quang Do and taking the bus to Bac Lieu. This is the first time he has spoken out publicly in 26 years. IBIB is honoured to present extracts of the conversation with this exceptional man. The full text, which gives details of his life in the re-education camp, is on the IBIB / Quê Me website :

http://www.queme.net/eng/e-docs_detail.php?numb=316

On 6 February 2005, I.B.I.B. again spoke with Venerable Thich Thien Minh. He had arrived in Bac Lieu and just paid a visit to his brother. Since his arrest, the prison authorities had never informed Thich Thien Minh's family about his situation. His brother thought he had died in the camp, and set up an altar in his home, where he prayed for Thich Thien Minh every day. Thich Thien Minh said his brother had suffered continuous harassments and pressures from the Police and authorities for many years simply because of his links with the dissident monk.

*****

I.B.I.B. : Venerable Thich Thien Minh, what are your feelings on your first day of freedom ?

Thich Thien Minh: I have been in re-education camp for 26 years. More than a quarter of a century in detention, simply for supporting the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV). A quarter of a century is not much compared with the long history of the Vietnamese people and humankind. But a quarter of a century in the life of a human being is a terribly long time. Especially for a monk, who has a mission to devote his life to helping others...

I was told that I owe my release to the government's "so-called" policy of clemency. But for me, their "clemency" has come too late. I have suffered too much harsh treatment for too long. In my opinion, their amnesty of political prisoners was prompted by the pressures and insistence of the international community. Releasing political prisoners, prisoners of conscience and religious prisoners is a sensible and necessary act. But they did it as a defensive reaction, something they were forced to do, not something they genuinely wanted to do.

If they have set me free with the intention of placing me under house arrest, administrative detention or subjecting me to further unfair treatment or discrimination on my release, then it won't be true freedom It will be just like transferring me from one prison to another, to a different kind of prison, that's all.

I believe that, as long as there is no true freedom, democracy or human rights in Vietnam, the whole 80-million Vietnamese people, including myself, will be condemned to live like shadows, crushed by fear, doubt, disillusion and beset by a thousand hardships and cares. These are my thoughts on my first day of freedom.

I.B.I.B.: How many political prisoners are there in Z30A reeducation camp today ?

Thich Thien Minh: There are still a number of political prisoners, and some religious prisoners too. For example, there is Father Pham Minh Tri -he has suffered from dementia for the past 10 years, but they still keep him in the camp - and Father Nguyen Duc Vinh of the Congregation of the Mother Co-redemptrix. Both these Catholic priests have been detained for 18 years, yet they have still not been released. There is also an old man belonging to a branch of the Hoa Hao Sect (Buu son Ky huong). His name is Ngo Quang Vinh. He is 87 years old, and walks with a stick. He is terribly weak and in very poor health, yet they keep him locked in the camp. There are so many elderly political prisoners in Z30A camp, 70-80 year-old men who came into the camp as strong, healthy youths with heads of shining black hair. Now their hair has turned white, their bodies are bent, yet they are still detained. Even if they are released one day, they will be just like walking skeletons, good for nothing, just an extra burden for their families.

I.B.I.B.: Did you have to accept any conditions in order to benefit from this amnesty ?

Thich Thien Minh: During the working session with the officials from the Ministry of Public Security, I insisted that they give me back the pagoda they confiscated [in 1976]. They told me to calm down, not to make demands too hastily, to let the Vietnamese government address my problems step by step. These sounded like empty promises to me, they smacked of insincerity... Some of the Public Security officials told me I must confine myself to practicing Buddhism after my release and promise not criticize or oppose the government as I did before.

I gave them my honest opinion, plain and clear. I said: "Uncle Ho once declared, wherever there is oppression and injustice, struggle will inevitably follow. Surely, then, the real question that the Vietnamese government should be asking themselves is not why the people are opposing or criticizing them, but whether they themselves have provoked opposition by being oppressive and unjust? That is my point of view.

I.B.I.B.: Is there anything you would like to add ?

Thich Thien Minh: Whilst I was in the camp, I heard from some of my prison colleagues who were arrested after me that the international community had launched appeals for the release of all political prisoners, prisoners of conscience and religious prisoners in Vietnam. Amongst these people is Mr. Vo Van Ai. I want to thank him, and ask him to convey my warmest thanks to the U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom, the U.S. government and Congress, the European Union and Parliament, the United Nations, especially Mr. Amor, international human rights organisations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International (their HQ in London and their section in Spain), as well as the radio stations, media and caring people all over the world. I thank all those who have worked selflessly and without rest to obtain the release of prisoners of conscience in Vietnam, prisoners who are detained simply because they have struggled non-violently, day and night, to realize their ideals of freedom, democracy and human rights. Thank you for supporting us and raising your voices on our behalf. I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.-

*****

Biographocal notes: Thich Thien Minh, secular name Huynh Van Ba, was born in 1954 in the southern province of Bac Lieu. In 1976, the authorities confiscated the Vinh Binh Pagoda in Bac Lieu, where he was Superior monk, for use as a warehouse for the local militia, and later razed it down to build a market. Because of his protests and active support of the banned UBCV, Thich Thien was arrested 1979, sentenced to life imprisonment and detained in Z30A re-education camp in Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province. In 1986, he was condemned to a second life sentence by an ad hoc prison tribunal for attempting to escape from the camp. In 1995, along with 200 political prisoners, he launched an appeal for democracy, human rights and the abolition of Article 4 of the Vietnamese Constitution (on the monopoly of the Communist Party). In 1996, he again signed a Petition with 200 political prisoners calling for improved detention conditions. Because of his frequent protests on behalf of his fellow inmates, Thich Thien Minh was routinely punished with solitary confinement, chained by his feet and hands. In 1997, the U.N. proclaimed Thich Thien Minh a victim of arbitrary detention. In 1998, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance, Mr. Abdelfattah Amor visited Thich Thich Minh at Z30A Camp. In 2004, thanks to international pressure, his sentence was commuted to 20 years in prison. He was due for release in 2006. Arrested at the age of 25, Thich Thien MInh is now 51 years old.

Condoleezza Rice required to act on Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Eritrea by March 15

For immediate release

Contact: Anne Johnson,

Communications Director

February 7, 2005

(202)523-3240, ext. 27

Washington - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has written to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice with specific recommendations for the policy actions she is required by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) to take by March 15 in response to the designation by the United States, for the first time, of Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Eritrea as "countries of particular concern" (CPCs) for their egregious and systematic religious freedom violations.

"As world events of the past several years have confirmed, ensuring that governments respect freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief both advances our strategic interests and is a vital component of securing broader freedoms. Toward that end, IRFA provides us with a flexible policy tool," said USCIRF Chair Preeta D. Bansal. "IRFA calls upon the U.S.government to take specific policy actions in response to designation of countries as CPCs. The designation of Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Eritrea provides the United States with an opportunity to act decisively. We call upon Secretary Rice to take bold steps in response to the designation of these three countries and chart a new foreign policy course that promotes freedom through both positive actions and, at the same time, demonstrates serious U.S. concern to those governments that fail to uphold their international commitments to human rights and fundamental freedoms."

The full text of the letter and recommendations for specific policy recommendations follow. An expanded text and explanation for each of these recommendations may be found attached to the press release of the letter on the USCIRF Web site at www.uscirf.gov.

Dear Secretary Rice:

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom congratulates you on your recent confirmation as Secretary of State. As in the past, the Commission looks forward to working together with you on our mutual goal of making the promotion of religious freedom and other human rights an integral part of our country's foreign policy. Perhaps now more than ever, the promotion of religious freedom and related human rights is vital to our strategic, as well as humanitarian, interests. In a world in which religious identity has become a profound determinant for certain actors within our international system, it is essential that the United States seek to foster conditions for freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief as a critical component of securing freedom and counteracting the roots of terrorism worldwide.

Madame Secretary, we write to you at this critical juncture at which the U.S. government is required to take responsive actions for countries designated as "countries of particular concern," or CPCs, under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). In particular, we offer several specific recommendations with respect to Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Eritrea, each of which was designated a CPC for the first time in 2004.

As you know, IRFA provides for many positive tools for advancing the internationally guaranteed right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief. At the same time, IRFA also contains a number of very specific provisions aimed at demonstrating serious U.S. concern to those governments that persistently perpetrate severe violations of religious freedom.

The Commission welcomed Secretary Powell's redesignation last year of Burma, China, Iran, North Korea, and Sudan as CPCs, and applauded the new designation of Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Eritrea. The Commission believes that the process of CPC designation and the implementation of meaningful policies in response to such designations?are among the most serious actions taken by the U.S. government in its human rights policy. The Department of State should use the full range of available policy tools to take action as outlined in IRFA with respect to all the countries the Secretary names as CPCs.

Regrettably, the only official action taken by our government with respect to countries that to date have been designated CPCs has been to invoke already existing sanctions, rather than to take additional measures pursuant to IRFA. Reliance on pre-existing sanctions provides little incentive for CPC governments to reduce or end egregious violations of religious freedom.The failure to take additional action under IRFA suggests that nothing further can, or will, be done by the U.S. government with respect to those countries that commit severe violations of freedom of religion or belief. The Commission has regularly drawn attention to, and expressed strong concern about, this failure in U.S. foreign policy.

The recent designation of Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Eritrea as CPCs, none of which is subject to pre-existing sanctions, provides our government with an opportunity decisively to respond to severe religious freedom violators. According to the statutory requirements of IRFA, for these three countries the U.S. government must: (1) request consultations with the government on the violations that gave rise to the designation, and consult with humanitarian and other U.S. organizations on the potential impact of actions that could be taken; (2) either (a) conclude a binding agreement to cease the particularly severe violations, or (b) take an action from one of several options specified in the statute (or a "commensurate" action); and (3) report to Congress on the action taken.

We understand that the consultation process is currently underway and that the deadline for taking action with respect to the three countries is March 15, 2005. The Commission respectfully, and in accordance with its statutory obligations, recommends the following actions by the U.S. government in response to the designations of Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Eritrea as CPCs. In doing so, we emphasize that these actions are initial steps that should be taken, in concert with diplomatic efforts at all levels, to urge the governments of these countries to abide by their international human rights commitments and cease severe violations of freedom of religion or belief. We also recognize that IRFA authorizes more stringent actions that could be taken should severe violations continue.

With regard to the three new CPC designations, the Commission recommends that the U.S. government should:

Saudi Arabia

1) identify those Saudi agencies and officials thereof who are responsible for particularly severe violations of religious freedom and vigorously enforce section 604 of IRFA with respect to Saudi Arabia, rendering inadmissible for entry into the United States any Saudi government official who was responsible for or directly carried out such violations;

2) issue a proclamation, under the President's authority pursuant to section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 USC 1182(f)), to bar those Saudi government officials from entering the United States who have been responsible for propagating globally an ideology that explicitly promotes hate, intolerance, and human rights violations;

3) issue a demarche urging the government of Saudi Arabia to cease funding or other support for written materials or other activities that explicitly promote hate, intolerance, and human rights violations, including the distribution of such materials in the United States and elsewhere outside of Saudi Arabia; and

4) order the heads of appropriate U.S. agencies, pursuant to section 405(a)(13) of IRFA, not to issue any specific licenses and not to grant any other specific authority for the export of any item on the U.S. Commerce Control List of dual-use items [Export Administration Regulations under part 774 of title 15] to any agency or instrumentality of the government of Saudi Arabia that is responsible for committing particularly severe violations of religious freedom. In FY 2004, the Commerce Department approved approximately $67 million worth of articles for Saudi Arabia, including, for example, such items as thumbcuffs, leg irons, shackles, and other items that could be used to perpetrate human rights violations.

Vietnam

1) identify those Vietnamese agencies and officials who are responsible for particularly severe violations of religious freedom and vigorously enforce section 604 of IRFA with respect to Vietnam, rendering inadmissible for entry into the United States any Vietnamese government official who was responsible for or directly carried out such violations; and

2) dedicate no less than $1 million for FY 2005 and FY 2006, if discretionary funds are allocated to Vietnam above its annual earmark, to programs that will directly promote freedom of religion and belief and related human rights in Vietnam.

Eritrea

1) engage in vigorous advocacy on religious freedom and other universal human rights at all levels of involvement with the government of Eritrea and draw international attention to religious freedom abuses in Eritrea, including in multilateral fora such as the United Nations Commission on Human Rights; and

2) conduct a review of U.S. development assistance to Eritrea with the aim of redirecting such assistance to programs that contribute directly to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Increases in other forms of development assistance should depend on measurable improvements in religious freedom.

With regard to Eritrea, the Commission notes its disappointment that the government of Eritrea has not yet registered any of the religious groups whose places of worship were closed and public religious activities prohibited in 2002 pending compliance with registration requirements.The Commission also notes with concern continued reports of the arrest and detention without charge of clergy and others engaged in the practice of their faith.

Please find attached to this letter an expanded description of and explanation for each of these recommendations.

Madame Secretary, although it is the case that the IRFA legislation allows the President to waive the taking of any action in response to the CPC designations, the Commission firmly believes that to do so would effectively render meaningless the IRFA process and undermine our nation's commitment to the promotion of freedom of religion or belief throughout the world. To maintain the integrity of the process and the principle, a stronger response, as outlined in IRFA, is essential.

The Commission looks forward to being of assistance to you and your staff in formulating actions by the U.S. government to advance freedom of religion or belief in Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam, as well as the other countries designated as CPCs.

Respectfully,

Preeta D. Bansal

Chair

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress. Visit our Web site at www.uscirf.gov

Preeta D. Bansal, Chair Felice D. Gaer, Vice Chair Nina Shea, Vice Chair

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput Michael Cromartie Khaled Abou El Fadl Elizabeth H. Prodromou Bishop Ricardo Ramirez Michael K. Young Ambassador John V. Hanford III, Ex-Officio Joseph R.Crapa, Executive Director

800 NORTH CAPITOL STREET, NW SUITE 790 WASHINGTON, DC 20002 202-523-3240, 202-523-5020 (FAX)

Vietnam Recognizes New Vietnam Protestant Church Leadership

BBC Monitoring International Reports

February 5, 2005

Hanoi, 4 February: The prime minister's recognition of a new regulation and leadership of the Vietnam Protestant Church (northern region)'s executive council, the 2004-08 tenure, was announced by Deputy Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Nguyen Thanh Xuan at the Hanoi Protestant Church on 4 February.

The regulation was adopted, and the leadership elected at the 32nd Congress of the Church's General Council in Hanoi on 1-2 December 2004.

The new council comprises 13 clerics with Father Phung Quang Huyen as Chairman. The new regulation consists of 76 articles in 10 chapters, ruling the goals, guidelines and institutional structure of the Church.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan at a New Year meeting with a Buddhist delegation in Hanoi on 4 February said the government has always attached importance to and ensured the right to religious freedoms which are stated in the Ordinance on Beliefs and Religion.

The deputy PM praised the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)'s contributions to strengthening the national great unity as well as the monks and nuns' contributions to the revolution in the past and the "doi moi" (renewal) at present.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, vice-chairman of the VBS executive council, expressed his thanks to the party and the government for their creation of favourable conditions for the VBS and its followers to practise their religion.

Vietnam Confirms Open Foreign Policy

Vietnam News Briefs

February 3, 2005

Vietnam will continually pursue its open and independent policy with all countries in the world, yesterday pledged Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien at a meeting with foreign diplomatic corps and international organizations in Hanoi on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays.

Nien thanked foreign ambassadors and charge d' affairs, and representatives of international agencies for their role as a bridge between Vietnam and their countries, their cooperation and valuable assistance to the Southeast Asian nation over the past year.

The foreign minister said he hoped that this year Vietnam will receive more support from all countries and international organizations.

Nien stressed that the important socio-economic and diplomatic achievements of Vietnam in 2004 were the result of the Vietnamese people's tireless efforts and great assistance from foreign countries and international organizations.

On behalf of the diplomatic corps, Sayed Al-Masri, ambassador of the Palestine State, and head of the diplomatic corps in Hanoi, conveyed best Tet wishes to the Vietnamese leaders and people.

To date, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 116 countries and territories in the world.

EU Ban Urged On Communist Symbols

Joseph K. Grieboski, Congressional Working Group on Religious Freedom, February 3, 2005

Several European Parliament members have urged the EU to match a proposed ban on Nazi signs with one on communist symbols like the hammer and sickle.

The MEPs, from Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, said communist symbols were a reminder of suffering under Soviet-era regimes.

EU debate over Nazi symbols was fuelled by outcry after the UK's Prince Harry wore a swastika to a costume party.

A spokesman said the EU had no plans to include communist signs in any new ban. 'Equal treatment'

Possible measures forbidding Nazi symbols are to be discussed by EU members this month as part of proposed rules to outlaw xenophobia and racism across the 25-member bloc.

Correspondents say any such ban would be fraught with difficulty.

The group of centre-right MEPs put their case over communist symbols to EU justice and home affairs commissioner Franco Frattini.

"We would like to have an equal treatment of the other evil totalitarian regime of the communist system," said Jozsef Szajer, a Hungarian MEP, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Czech MEP Jan Zahradil agreed: "If we decide to ban one, we should decide to ban all of them."

But Mr Frattini's spokesman, Frisco Roscam Abbing, said the commissioner felt it "might not be appropriate" to include communist symbols in the context of discussions on xenophobia and anti-Semitism.

Vietnam Rights Record Under The Spotlight Despite Dissident Released

Agence France Presse

February 1, 2005

Vietnam came under renewed pressure over its rights record Tuesday despite announcing the release of a group of dissidents, with critics welcoming the move but saying far more needed to be done to shore up religious and political freedoms in the communist state.

Human rights watchdogs joined the United States, which has labelled Vietnam among the world's worst offenders on religious freedom, in saying the six prisoners should be allowed to live without fear of further intimidation.

"The Vietnamese have the responsibility to uphold the right of freedom of expression for everyone in Vietnam," said Amnesty International's deputy Asia director Natalie Hill, adding many other political and religious prisoners were still serving jail sentences.

"We trust that the fundamental rights of those released will be respected and that they will be allowed to live freely without harassment or intimidation," she added.

A presidential spokesman in Hanoi said Monday an amnesty of 8,325 prisoners to mark the new year starting on February 8 included "six prisoners sentenced for violating national security".

Only two names were mentioned by the official -- Catholic priest Father Nguyen Van Ly and political dissident Nguyen Dan Que.

The US State Department cited three other names, included Huynh Van Ba alias Thich Thien Minh, a member of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, another political dissident jailed in 1993, Nguyen Dinh Huy, and a member of the Hoa Hao Buddhist sect, Truong Van Duc.

But critics expressed doubt that the releases represented any fundamental change or would guarantee real freedom for the dissidents.

"All we can do is hope they will be left alone," said Jared Genser, president of the US-based organisation Freedom Now, who told AFP that Nguyen Dan Que had already been released and was with his family.

It was not clear if any of the other five had yet been released.

"These cases were considered a barometer of the situation in the country," Genser said of Father Ly and Que. "Does that mean that the situation has changed overnight? The answer is no... But this is a step in the right direction."

Hanoi's decision came amid ongoing deliberations in Washington as to what sanction to impose on Vietnam after the State Department placed Hanoi in September on its list of the world's worst offenders on religious freedom.

A decision is due next month.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher urged "the government of Vietnam to permit these and other individuals to express their political views freely and to practice religion peacefully in an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect."

Senator Sam Brownback, who has travelled to Vietnam to push the case of religious detainees said: "While there remain many innocent political prisoners behind bars in Vietnam, this is a positive gesture by the Vietnamese government."

Other observers suggested the releases were more aimed at improving the regime's reputation abroad than marking a real political change.

The Paris-based Vietnam Committee on Human Rights, which has repeatedly criticised the communist regime, also asked Hanoi "to ensure all these men would be granted full civil and political rights on their release and be amnestied of their whole prison sentence, including the customary 'probationary detention' or house arrest."

Their release "must not be construed as evidence that all is going well in Vietnam", the organisation added in a statement.

The comment was echoed by a foreign diplomat in Hanoi who asked not to be named.

"According to our information, the released had to give some assurance to the authorities that they would keep a low profile," he said.

"The government certainly will not trust them," he added. "Apart from those who are really old, it is clear that these people will be closely watched."

Vietnam War Was Won, Then Lost

Jack Kelly, January 29, 2005

(http://toledoblade.com)

READERS reacted with much skepticism and more than a little mirth to the assertion in my Jan. 16 column that President Nixon's Vietnamization program was a good model to follow for success in Iraq. By 1972, I wrote, "U.S. troop levels had declined to 69,000, the Viet Cong were crushed, and the North Vietnamese sued for peace." Obviously, more explanation is needed.

South Vietnam fell in April, 1975, when North Vietnam invaded and Congress reneged on a pledge to support South Vietnam with U.S. air power, if North Vietnam should breach the terms of the Paris Peace Accords that, in January, 1973, had ended the war on terms acceptable to us.

To say we won the Vietnam War before we lost it sounds like something John Kerry might say, but it's the truth.

The Vietnam War was won in the 11 days between Dec. 18 and Dec. 30, 1972. That was the time of the "Christmas bombing" of Hanoi and Haiphong, the only time in the war that we used strategic air power against strategic targets in North Vietnam.

"After those 11 days you had won the war, it was all over!" said Sir Robert Thompson, the British counterinsurgency expert. "They had fired 1,242 [surface to air missiles], they had none left, and what would have come in over land from China would have been a mere trickle. They and their whole rear base at that point would be at your mercy. They would have taken any terms. And that is why, of course, you actually got a peace agreement in January, which you had not been able to get in October."

Even before the Christmas bombing, the ground war was well in hand, despite (or perhaps because of) a draw down in U.S. forces from 550,000 in 1968 to 69,000 by the end of 1972.

The catalyst was the replacement of Gen. William Westmoreland with Gen. Creighton Abrams after the Tet Offensive in 1968. General Westmoreland - perhaps the stupidest American ever to wear four stars - thought he could win a war of attrition against North Vietnam. His strategy of "search and destroy" resulted in thousands of unnecessary American deaths, and the deaths of tens of thousands of Vietnamese civilians as "collateral damage."

General Abrams emphasized protection of the South Vietnamese population by protecting key areas; attacking the enemy's "logistics nose," and building up South Vietnam's forces.

The proof came in the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive of 1972, a much larger cross-border invasion than the 1975 invasion. Outnumbered South Vietnamese troops, backed by American air power and naval gunfire, crushed the North Vietnamese.

America made many, many mistakes in Vietnam. But the vast majority of these were made during the presidencies of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson and when General Westmoreland was theater commander in chief. Air Force Gen. T.R. Milton noted that the war could have been won at any time from the Gulf of Tonkin incident until the Christmas bombing:

"In those critical years between 1964 and 1968, before American public opinion had become mesmerized, the truly critical targets were given sanctuary," General Milton wrote. "Instead, our airplanes were to go on giving signals. The places where the signals were to be given soon became predictable to the North, and our pilots paid the price."

The war ultimately was lost because American public opinion turned against it. The turning point was the Tet Offensive of Jan. 30, 1968. This was widely described in our media as a victory for the Viet Cong, when in fact it was precisely the opposite.

The Viet Cong achieved strategic surprise (General Westmoreland was asleep at the switch), but the Americans and South Vietnamese fought back ferociously, and the VC were all but totally destroyed. Never again would guerrillas be anything other than a minor nuisance.

The only similarity between the Vietnam War and the war in Iraq is that the news media, once again, are mangling the truth in ways beneficial to our enemies.

Monthly Nha Bao Va Cong Luan Suspended After Two Issues

Reporters without borders / Reporters sans frontières

Press Release

21 January 2005

Reporters Without Borders condemned the suspension of the monthly Nha Bao va Cong Luan [Journalist and Public Opinion], which was reportedly ordered to cease publishing in mid-January 2005. The decision, taken by the ministry of culture and information, has not been made public.

The worldwide press freedom organisation criticised the Vietnamese authorities for suspending a publication if its investigations proved embarrassing. "In this country where the authorities view the media as propaganda vehicles, we deplore the censorship inflicted on the press when it reflects popular discontent," it said.

Reporters Without Borders learned on 18 January that Nha Bao va Cong Luan had received an order to cease publishing just a few days earlier. The reason for the order was unknown but in its first two issues that appeared in November and December 2004 it carried investigations involving influential figures and some business circles.

One investigation focused on a major tourist development near a well-known beach at Vung Tau in the south of the country in which local people were quoted as objecting to the expensive project which they said would be harmful to the environment.

The investigation also highlighted corruption among the local elite and their protection of those in charge of the project.

In the past few weeks, the Vietnamese government has slapped bans on a number of publications, in particular news websites, or ordered them to tow the line. For more information go to:

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=3D12291

Reporters Without Borders also repeated its appeal for the release of Journalist Nguyen Dinh Huy and four cyberdissidents, Nguyen Dan Que, Nguyen Vu Binh, Pham Hong Son and Nguyen Khac Toan, who are still in prison.

Vincent Brossel

Asia - Pacific Desk, Reporters Sans Frontières

Rue Geoffroy Marie, 75009 Paris

33 1 44 83 84 70

33 1 45 23 11 51 (fax)

asia@rsf.org

www.rsf.org

A Ray Of Hope For Diplomatic Ties Between The Holy See And Vietnam

State media say it is question of time. However, internal repression continues.

Rome, January 21, 2005 (AsiaNews) – Vietnam seems more open to diplomatic ties with the Holy See. Vatican sources told AsiaNews about promising signs in that direction.

Recently, the president of Italy’s lower house of parliament, Pier Ferdinando Casini, visited Vietnam where local state media played up the event.

They reported that Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong told Mr Casini that Vietnam and the Holy See had no quarrel, and that both sides have been meeting regularly. Establishing official ties was “only a question of time”, Luong reportedly said.

Speaking to AsiaNews, some Vatican insiders said that the Vietnamese government has been sending the right signals. The fact that state media talked about diplomatic relations is something new and a sign Vietnam is serious about it.

Fr Guy-Marie Nguyen Hong Giao told UCA News said “that such an important piece of news on diplomacy cannot be announced by state-run media without the approval of high-ranking officials”. Vietnam is now ready for diplomatic relations.

Card Jean Baptiste Phan Minh Man cautions against too much optimism. As much as he is for diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Vietnam, he believes that the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two sides depends primarily on Vietnam. “I know the Holy See is ready to do so at any time”.

The cardinal, who is also Archbishop of Ho Chi Minh City, added that over the past three decades there have been signs of increasing religious freedom in the country, although freedom is “still limited and permitted” rather than a basic human right.

Despite these recent musings, some analysts note that Vietnam wants its cake and eat it too—a more liberal façade to the international community and the iron fist at home.

This month, it allowed the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh and a 190-member delegation from 30 countries to visit the country from January to April and talk with local Buddhists, in effect ending the Zen Buddhist master’s 38-year exile from Vietnam. In the sixties the Venerable Thich had irked both the Americans and the Vietcong for his criticism of both sides in the war.

By contrast, human rights abuses and repression continue, especially against the Montagnards. Back in December many Christians living in the central plateau were arrested as a preventive measure against possible demonstrations on Christmas Day.

The authorities wanted to avoid a repeat of the incidents that occurred at Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Dak Nong over the 2004 Easter holiday.

Vietnam's Imprisoned Mennonites Appeal to People’s Supreme Court

Flash News From Compass Direct

Global News from the Frontlines

Summary:

Los Angeles, January 13 (Compass) -- The People’s Supreme Court in Ho Chi Minh City will hear the appeals of the Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang and evangelist Pham Ngoc Thach of the Mennonite Church on February 2. Quang and Thach received three-year and two-year sentences respectively -- the longest sentences among six Mennonite workers sentenced on November 12, 2004 -- for charges of “resisting persons doing official duty.” Meanwhile, co-defendants Nguyen Thanh Nhan and Nguyen Hieu Nghia, released in early December, have written accounts outlining the severe abuse they suffered during their imprisonment. “These accounts ... are heart-rending reports of non-stop beatings, deprivation and humiliation because of their Christian faith,” a source told Compass. The torture and abuse that Miss Le Thi Hong Lien, 21, suffered, has led to her complete mental and physical breakdown, sources say.

Vietnam's Imprisoned Mennonites Appeal to People’s Supreme Court

Evidence emerges that church workers endure severe torture.

Special to Compass Direct

LOS ANGELES, January 13 (Compass) -- Sources in Vietnam have informed Compass that the People’s Supreme Court in Ho Chi Minh City will hear the appeals of the Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang and evangelist Pham Ngoc Thach on February 2. This represents the final appeal option available to the defendants; however, the high court has virtually never reversed a lower court decision.

Mennonite leaders Quang and Thach received three-year and two-year sentences respectively -- the longest sentences among six Mennonite workers sentenced on November 12, 2004 -- for charges of “resisting persons doing official duty.” Both men are being held in the Chi Hoa Prison in Ho Chi Minh City.

While the Vietnamese government has maintained that the trial has nothing to do with religion, at least five raids on the Quang home and Mennonite church involving dozens of police officers in the days surrounding the November trial strongly belie that claim. The stated objective of the raids, some of which were recorded and video-taped, was to put an end to all “illegal religious activity.”

The higher court denied an appeal from evangelist Nguyen Van Phuong, scheduled for release on March 2. Phuong is serving the remainder of his sentence in Bo Vu Prison in Binh Phuoc Province.

An appeal was also denied Miss Le Thi Hong Lien, a children’s teacher, whose one-year sentence ends June 30. She is reportedly unfit to stand trial.

The torture and abuse that Lien, 21, suffered while imprisoned has led to her complete mental and physical breakdown, according to sources in Vietnam. A strong, bright and committed Christian worker when she was arrested June 30, 2004, Lien is now a mere shadow of her former self.

Authorities told her father that she is “wild” and needs to be tied hands-and-feet to her bed. They informed him also that she has no control over her bodily functions and that punishment for this does no good. They claim she has become the object of prurient interest by prisoners around the infirmary where she is held, because she removes her clothes and staggers around naked when she is unrestrained.

Prison officials told her father that she was given beatings recently because he had spoken to foreign journalists about her mistreatment.

When the egregious abuse of Miss Lien came to the attention of Amnesty International, that organization launched an “urgent action” appeal, asking its constituency to write letters to Vietnam’s top leaders on her behalf.

During the first months of her incarceration, Lien was denied family visits, supposedly guaranteed by law, because, prison officials told her parents that she was “stubborn and uncooperative.” According to the testimony of co-defendants Nguyen Thanh Nhan and Nguyen Hieu Nghia, this meant she refused to lodge false accusations against Quang.

Nhan and Nghia received the lightest sentences of the six Mennonite prisoners and were released in early December.

The source who translated the two brothers’ written accounts, which outlined the severe abuse they suffered during their months of imprisonment, told Compass, “These accounts would do the Soviet gulags proud. They are heart-rending reports of non-stop beatings, deprivation and humiliation because of their Christian faith.

“A favored method of abuse was to entice hardened criminals with rewards of good food and cigarettes to beat the Mennonite prisoners. They enthusiastically complied. The brothers recall loud screams of pain under torture reverberating through the cell-block and fading to nothing as, one by one, the brothers and the other Mennonite prisoners were beaten into unconsciousness.

“Both brothers report that many times the torture was administered because they would not sign prepared false accusation documents against their leader, the Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang.”

The brothers, age 22 and 24, have had medical exams and are under treatment. Doctors were alarmed at what they found. Both had untreated broken noses. Nhan still has constant bouts of vomiting and Nghia a crippled leg. Both are unable to work.

Compass has learned that lawyers are preparing the appeals of Quang and Thach, but little hope exists that the attorneys will be allowed to vigorously defend the Mennonites.

To date, none of the six prisoners or their families has been provided a written copy of the People’s Court decision from the November 12 trial. Legal observers say that the original trial should have been considered a mistrial because defendant Lien showed every sign of having had a mental breakdown when she was brought to the court. She was unable to stand or speak, but the judge would not permit a medical examination or opinion. That is grounds for a mistrial--even in Vietnam.

A lawyer following the case told Compass, “Glaring illegal irregularities in the Vietnamese legal system are of no consequence when the judiciary and the government prosecutors are one and the same.

“The sentences are fixed on political grounds before the trial. This disheartening display of injustice toward the innocent Mennonite prisoners and their systematic abuse while in custody should give serious pause to anyone who says Vietnam is making progress toward rule of law.”

For subscription information, contact:

Compass Direct

P.O. Box 27250

Santa Ana CA 92799-7250

USA

TEL: 949-862-0314

FAX: 949-752-6536

E-mail: info@compassdirect.org