(VOVworld) – The US House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Human Rights on May 16th approved HR 1897, the so-called “Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2013”, which consists of measures to boost human rights in Vietnam and prohibits any increase in non-humanitarian assistance to Vietnam. The Act has to pass both houses of Congress and be signed by the President before coming into force. The House Human Rights Sub-committee has made a decision counter to the development of Vietnam – US relations.
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| Vietnamese Buddhist followers excercise their freedom of religion and belief |
The bill unveiled by Congressman Chris Smith reveals the House Human Rights Sub-committee’s mistaken view of human rights in Vietnam. The bill asks Vietnam to respect religious freedom, release political prisoners, respect the rights of free speech, conform to international standards on human rights, and respect the rights of ethnic minority groups. These demands reflect misinformation abaout human rights in Vietnam. It’s necessary to affirm the truth that human rights are ensured in Vietnam by its Constitution and laws. In Vietnam, there are no “political prisoners”. Vietnamese people can freely express their views on political, economic, cultural, and social issues. Ethnic minority communities in Vietnam are supported by the Government to develop equally nationwide. Vietnam always respects and abides by international commitments and norms on human rights, and its human rights achievements are acknowledged internationally. Vietnam is striving to earn a spot on the UN Human Rights Council in the 2014 – 2016 term.
The House Human Rights Sub-committee’s bill intentionally uses fabrications about human rights in Vietnam. It’s a misguided and unfriendly act to approve a bill consisting fabrications and unreasonably ask Vietnam to respect freedom of religion, press, and human rights. According to the UN Charter, it’s the right of each nation to make and execute its Constitution and Laws and no country or outside political force can intervene. By approving HR 1897, the sub-committee has violated the principle of respecting national self-determination because it gives itself the right to judge human rights in Vietnam, a sovereign nation.
HR 1897 permits non-humanitarian assistance to Vietnam only if “Hanoi makes serious and significant improvements in human rights.” It’s important to mention that Vietnam and the US are trying to heal the wounds of war and develop multi-faceted cooperation. The US has cooperated closely with Vietnam to solve post-war humanitarian problems such as American soldiers missing in action, buried landmines, Agent Orange/ Dioxin contamination, and suffering by the families of Agent Orange victims. Montague Winfield, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Prisoners of War and Missing Personnel, is in Vietnam pushing the search for missing personnel of both countries. Since normalizing relations in 1995, Vietnam – US relations have advanced in economics, trade, and investment. Humanitarian cooperation is an important part of their new relationship.
In providing assistance to Vietnam, the US is doing what any moral country should do following a war it caused. The US government is right to conduct humanitarian activities and cooperate with Vietnam in resolving the war aftermath. For HR 1897 to link human rights with assistance to Vietnam, even though it specifies non-humanitarian assistance, is a wrongful and non-humanitarian decision.
Some US congressmen, notably congressman Chris Smith, have exploited the issue of human rights in Vietnam to gain the votes of Americans who have a biased view of Vietnam. Smith has introduced the Vietnam Human Rights Act several times. It has passed the US House of Representatives but has not won Senate approval. Merely introducing HR 1897 goes against the improving relations and best interests of both the Vietnamese and the American people.