Christmas Wish For Vietnam

Petition For the Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2004, HR1587


Dear Senator __________________________________: (http://www.senate.gov/)

As for our Christmas Wish for the oppressed people of Vietnam, we/I, the undersigned respectfully ask that you vote for the Vietnam Human Rights Act 2004, HR 1587 (http://thomas.loc.gov/) for the reasons below:

The Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2004, HR 1587 was introduced by Congressman Christopher H Smith, Republican (NJ-4) on 4/3/2003 and cosponsored by 35 members of the House to promote freedom, democracy and support human rights in Vietnam. This act was passed by the House of Representatives on July 19, 2004; received in the Senate on 7/20/2004; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations on 7/23/2004. Now this bill needs to be passed by the U.S. Senate this year before its expiration date.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a one-party State, ruled and controlled by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), which continues to deny the right of citizens to change their government. Although in recent years the National Assembly of Vietnam has played an increasingly active role as a forum for highlighting local concerns, corruption, and inefficiency, the National Assembly remains subject to CPV direction. The CPV maintains control over the selection of candidates in national and local elections.

Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2004 - Title I: Conditions on Increased Nonhumanitarian Assistance to the Government of Vietnam - (Sec. 101) Prohibits FY 2005 U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance to the Government of Vietnam in excess of FY 2004 levels unless the President certifies to Congress that the Government of Vietnam: (1) has made substantial progress toward releasing all political and religious prisoners from imprisonment and other forms of detention; (2) has made substantial progress toward respecting the right to freedom of religion, and has made substantial progress toward returning estates and properties confiscated from the churches; (3) has made substantial progress toward allowing Vietnamese nationals access to U.S. refugee programs; and (4) has made substantial progress toward respecting the human rights of members of ethnic minority groups in the Central Highlands and elsewhere in Vietnam; (5) neither any official of the Government of Vietnam nor any of its agencies was complicit in a severe form of trafficking in persons, or the Government of Vietnam took all appropriate steps to end any such complicity and hold any such official, agency, or entity fully accountable for its conduct.

It authorizes the President to waive such requirements if increased U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance would promote the purposes of this Act or is otherwise in the U.S. national interest.

Title III: United States Public Diplomacy - (Sec. 301) Declares it is U.S. policy: (1) to take necessary measures to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by the Government of Vietnam; and (2) that educational and cultural exchange programs with Vietnam should promote progress toward freedom and democracy.

Again, for the reasons mentioned above, we sincerely urge you to vote in favor of the Vietnam Human Rights Act as a Christmas Gift for the people of Vietnam so they may soon enjoy the basic freedom and human rights as we value.

Respectfully submitted, Date: ____________________________
Name of 1st Petitioner: _________________________________Signature: ____________________________
Name of 2nd Petitioner: ________________________________ Signature: ___________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip: _____________________________________________________

(This petition is circulated by the Americans For Human Rights In Vietnam Action (related Website: www.avra.org and Email: [email protected] ) and based on the Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2004, HR 1587. Please make more copies of this petition and ask others to sign, then send the signed petition to your U.S. Senator (s) via fax/address/email as listed at this link: http://www.senate.gov/, and call your Senator (s) to follow up.)