On the prison sentence of writer Nguyen Vu Binh

Founders of the Congressional Vietnam Caucus send letter to Vietnamese president. Representative Loretta Sanchez delivers speech on House floor.
 

Urging Vietnam to be designated as a "Country of Particular Concern"

"The 'systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations' and government policies leading to imprisonment, internal deportations and torture in Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and Vietnam certainly meet the criteria outlined in the legislation as 'particularly severe violations of religious freedom.'  Mr. Secretary, in the interest of advancing the cause of freedom, including the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, we strongly urge you to uphold human dignity by exercising your authority and designating Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam as countries of particular concern." -- Letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell from U.S. Senators and Members of Congress. [Read more]
 

Protesting the persecution of the UBCV leadership

"The apparent restrictions placed on the UBCV monks are unfortunate and heavy-handed actions in light of the reception Thich Huyen Quang was given in April 2003 by the Prime Minister Phan Van Khai. The Venerable Thich Huyen Quang has stated at that time, the Prime Minister assured him that his detention and that of Thich Quang Do were mistakes made by local officials and would soon be rectified. Unfortunately, these promises appear to be unfulfilled. The latest incident again confirms the glaring lack of religious freedom in Vietnam." -- Letter to Vietnamese authorities from Representatives Loretta Sanchez, Christopher Smith, Ed Royce, Zoe Lofgren, Mike Honda. [Read more]
 

On the trial of internet activist Pham Hong Son

"Freedom of expression is a fundamental right. In today's knowledge-based economy, Internet freedom is a key factor in weighing the openness and transparency of a society. Vietnam would be a much stronger candidate for attracting foreign investment and receiving membership in international bodies such as the World Trade Organization if Vietnamese citizens were granted the right to freedom of information." -- Letter to Vietnamese authorities from Representatives Loretta Sanchez, Christopher Smith, Ellen Tauscher, Elijah Cummings, Ed Royce. [Read more]
 

Calling for the release of Buddhist patriarch Thich Huyen Quang and deputy leader Thich Quang Do

"These courageous leaders have spent much of the last 25 years detained without charge or trial for their peaceful advocacy of fundamental human rights and religious freedom - rights guaranteed by the Vietnamese Constitution and enshrined in the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which your country has both ratified and pledged to uphold. As a result of these honorable efforts, they have been imprisoned in solitary confinement, released, placed under house arrest, exiled, and arrested again." -- Letter to Vietnamese authorities from 37 Members of Congress. [Read more]