U.S. Urged to Press Vietnam on Human Rights

By Michelle Vu

WASHINGTON – Panels of human rights experts and Vietnamese witnesses reported numerous cases of harassments and unjust arrests by the communist government on Thursday as they urged for greater U.S. pressure on Vietnam to improve its human rights record.

Reports from human rights and religious freedom experts as well as a moving personal testimony from the wife of a detained U.S. citizen took place at the Congressional Human Rights Caucus (CHRC) briefing, "Human Rights in Vietnam Today," on Capitol Hill.

Jane Tien Dobui shared her personal tragedy of her husband’s arrest one month earlier in Vietnam while on vacation. Her husband, Cong Thanh Do, an American citizen and human rights and pro-democracy activists, was accused of being a terrorist with plans to attack the U.S. General Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. Dobui recounted his arrests through tears and said she has no information on Cong, not knowing "even if he is still alive."

Other cases of arrests of pro-democracy Vietnamese include Mr. Tran Dinh who was arrested on Sept. 4 for being a member of the democracy movement Bloc 8406, which issued the "2006 Manifesto for Freedom and Democracy in Vietnam," according to the statement by Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Bich, a board of directors member of the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans. The Manifesto was posted online and signed by 118 citizens. Pastor Ngo Hoai No, another Bloc 8406 member was arrested on Sept. 5 but released a day later.

Dr. Chan Dang-Vu, representative for North America, Vietnam Reform Party (Viet Tan), reported the cases of Truong Quoc Huy and his brother Truong Quoc Tuan who were arrested for participating in a pro-democracy chat room. He said that the whereabouts of Truong Quoc Huy is still unknown while Truong Quoc Tuan is under house arrest.

Others, like Vu Hoang Hai, have been beaten severely for their support of the Democracy Manifesto or ideas of a multi-party state government.

Panel members expressed hope that President Bush in his upcoming visit to Hanoi in November for the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit will press the Vietnamese government to improve human rights and religious freedom within its country.

In the conclusion of her speech, Dobui said, "My little boy has a dream about his daddy."

"He said that he [wished] his daddy would pick him up from school and give me a hug," she said of her 9-year-old son. "So please help my children bring their daddy home. Help my little boy to have his dream come dream. Please help my husband and the father of my children, a human rights activists and human rights activists, please give him back the ability to talk and speak his mind for what he believes in and what all of us here believe in – democracy and freedom."

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories