Washington D.C., Sep 25, 2008 / 19:04 pm
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, a California Democrat, along with other U.S. House members, has written a letter to Vietnam’s President Nguyen Minh Triet expressing their concern over the Vietnamese government’s recent human rights violations. The letter details some recent incidents of violence, harassment, and arrests of protesters.
"In the last month, Vietnam has intensified its campaign of violence against peaceful protesters", said Sanchez in a statement. "I hope the Bush administration will take a stand against the Government of Vietnam's continued violence and its violations of International Covenants. Vietnam must make swift changes to maintain a positive relationship with the United States."
The September 18 letter, which was obtained by CNA, is signed by Rep. Sanchez, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), and Rep. Stephen Cohen (D-TN). The letter is copied to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak, and Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.
“We are writing to express our serious concerns regarding the Government of Vietnam's ongoing human rights violations and harassment of democracy activists,” the congressmen’s letter begins.