Dear President Bush and Vice President Cheney:
We express our grave concerns about the fact that you have approved a visit by Nguyen minh Triet to the White House, probably on June 22, 2007.
As a leader of the USA and also of the free world, you have several reasons to do so. Some people say that security for the region and for the world is one. Hanoi?s cooperation with the US in fighting the terror is another. And still, others explain that interest of business circles is a motive for you to make such decision.
This is a move you make to get close to the communist country. Briefly, for any or all reasons cited, you are the one who wants to raise the relationship between the USA and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) up to a higher level . It is clear that you expect that the SRV becomes a close and loyal friend that cooperates with you. in achieving the goals.
In this letter, we do not discuss that expectation. However, we would like to raise the dark side of your decision and the consequence of it is an excessive burden on the Vietnamese people. Properly speaking, this is done at the expenses of the Vietnamese people.
In fact, last year, you allowed the name of the SRV to be removed from the CPC list, helped pass the PNTR bill, and then allowed it to join WTO, and yourself; you came to the APEC meeting in Hanoi. How have Hanoi leaders interpreted these facts? Let hear Vo van Kiet, former premier of the SRV and no 4 man in the Politburo of the communist party of Vietnam (CPV) say in The Communist Review No 123, issue of Feb.07 as follows: ?the fact that SRV joined WTO and that leaders of Major Powers were present at the APEC meeting held in Hanoi is an evidence that international communities recognize the leadership role of the party and the state in the process of integration?? Thus, the Party is a person who really holds overall power and achieve political consensus which is a largest support to implement political system reforms.?
What does Kiet have in mind, when he makes this statement? Kiet wants to tell Vietnamese people and the whole world that leaders of the major powers have conferred upon the Party full authority to act. And if anyone challenges the party about freedom and democracy, he will bear all burdens. An important thing in this situation should be noted that a picture of you, as a President of the USA making statements to the Vietnamese people when you stood under the statue of ?Uncle Ho? showed that USA is on their side. And this is evidence that President Bush was supporting their policy. It is no doubt that as a result, a massive campaign of systematic repression has been carried out since then.
In fact, tough stance began after SRV got into WTO.
At first, some members of the Thang TiꮠParty were arrested. Then in February 18, 07 Father Nguyꮠvan Ly?s house in Hu꠷as searched and then he was taken away, and placed under house arrest in a remote church.
On March 30, 2007, Father Ly and some others such as NguyꮠPhong, Nguyꮠbinh Thanh, Hoang thi Anh Dao and Le thi Hang were sentenced to imprisonment for ?committing propaganda activities against the government? by the Hu꠴ribunal court.
In separate cases, the following were also prosecuted for spreading propaganda against the regime and also received imprisonment sentences:
On May 10, 2007, Dr. Le nguyen Sang, Reporter Huynh nguyen Dao, Lawyer Nguyen bac Truyen, in Saigon.
On May 11, 2007, Lawyers Nguyen van Dai, Le thi Cong Nhan in Hanoi.
On May 15, 2007, Lawyer Tran quoc Hien, in Saigon.
All international Human Rights Organizations have strongly criticized the move.
On May 15, 2007 in Bruxelles, President of the European Union issued a Declaration on sentencing of human rights defenders, saying that ?the EU has noted with great concern that several peaceful human rights defenders have been arrested and given long prison sentences on charge of conducting propaganda against SRV.?
Germany and others strongly condemned such deplorable violations.
Now, as a president of the USA, you plan to receive Nguyꮠminh Tri괠at the White House under these circumstances, the communists would think that you approve their policy. Even, a status of a state visit is not granted or even if he is humiliated, he doesn?t care so long as he gets in the White House and has pictures taken with you. This is a very important tactics for the CPV to hold on power.
We recommend that:
SRV be required to release all political prisoners before Nguyꮠminh Triet is allowed to come to the US soil
SRV be placed back on the CPC list
SVR be denied a seat of non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. A country that has seriously and systematically violated Human Rights against its own people does not deserve to be member of that body and also does not deserve support by the USA. The USA need to use its veto power to give Hanoi a lesson as to how to behave as a civilized society.
We hope that you understand the seriousness of these communist atrocities.
Sincerely,
The Vietnamese Americans.
