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VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN COALITION
FOR THE PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM,
FREE SPEECH AND WORKER RIGHTS
910 17th Street, N.W. Washington DC 20006; Tel. (202) 496-1401
 
 
 
March 12, 2007
 
The Honorable Sam Brownback
303 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
 
Attention: Bryan Clark
Fax: (202) 228-1265
 
Dear Senator Brownback:
 
We, the undersigned, representing Vietnamese-American organizations across the country, would like to express our support of the sign-on letter(s) you will be introducing this week with regard to Hanoi?s recent crackdown on prominent religious and political leaders in Vietnam.
 
Considering the deteriorating health conditions of Catholic priest Nguyen Van Ly, cyber-dissident Nguyen Vu Binh, and human rights lawyers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong-Nhan, your prompt intervention would mean the US always stands up for human dignity and safety, as well as their rights, as provided for in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 
 
In view of the recent crackdown being ?one of the worst in 20 years,? according to Human Rights Watch, your letter(s) would send an unequivocal message to Hanoi that the US will do whatever it can to stop any further backsliding in respecting basic human rights. The letters would also serve as a strong reminder of the commitments to religious and political tolerance that Hanoi has made to win accession to the World Trade Organization and get Permanent Normal Trade Relations status with the US.    
 
Also, in light of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister?s visit to Washington DC this week to pave the way for a state visit later this year by President Nguyen Minh Triet to seek expanded collaboration, mainly trade and economic partnerships, the letter(s) would reiterate that the US will be ready to use its leverage to ensure mutual understanding and cooperation in protecting religious freedom, free speech and other basic human rights.
 
Thank you for your long-standing support of our struggle for religious and political freedom.
Sincerely,

 

 

Organization                                                          Represented by 

 
Alliance for Democracy for Vietnam                                              Ly Hien Tai, Chairman
Center of Democracy for Vietnam                                                 Nguyen Thanh Ha, Chairman
Center for Vietnam Studies                                                           Nguyen Van Canh, Director
Cao-Dai Church of Vietnam                                                         Nguyen Thanh Liem, Chairman
   (Overseas Committee for the Protection of Cao-Daism)
Council for Human Rights in Vietnam                                            Nguyen Hong Lien, Chairman
Federation of Former Vietnamese                                                 Nguyen Tuong Thuoc, Vice-Chair
Political Prisoners Associations
International Committee for Freedom                                            Nguyen Quoc Quan, Chairman
       to Support the Non-Violent Movement for Human Rights               
National Congress of Vietnamese Americans                                 Nguyen Ngoc Bich, Chairman
Overseas Hoa Hao Buddhist                                                         RV Huynh Van Hiep, Vice-Chairman
Congregational Church
The People's Democratic Party (US Office)                                  Do Thanh Cong, Spokesperson
The Vietnam Restoration Party                                                     Tran Quoc Bao, Chairman
The Viet Tan Party                                                                       Dang Vu Chan, Central Cmmt. Mbr.
Vietnam Democracy Forum                                                          Nguyen Cao Quyen, Chairman
Vietnam Helsinki Committee                                                         Tran Tu Thanh, Chairman
Vietnam Human Rights Network                                                   Le Minh Nguyen, Chair
Vietnamese Federation of San Diego                                            Tran Tiet, Chairman
VNQDD Overseas                                                                       Lam Ngoc Thach, Standing Cmmt. Chair
Vietnamese Community                                                                 Ly Van Phuoc, Chairman
            of Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia
Washington DC Area Coalition of                                                 Tran Thien Hieu, Chairman
            Vietnamese Veterans Associations