Press Release

Press Release

Vietnamese American Public Affairs Committee

February 5, 2001

For information contact:
Daniel Hoang (703) 629-6557
Diem H. Do (714) 319-2314

VIETNAMESE-AMERICANS ORGANIZE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO LOBBY CONGRESS FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN VIETNAM

For many years, numerous international organizations rank the Vietnamese government as one of the worst human rights violators in the world. Some of these organizations include Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, and Reporters Sans Frontiers just to name a few.

Recently, in its 2001 World Report, Human Rights Watch stated that in Vietnam, "religious freedom also remained sharply curtailed. The government's ban on independent religious associations continued, with all religious groups required to register with and seek the approval of the state."

For decades, different religious groups inside Vietnam have been fighting for religious freedom. Most recently, since 12/00, Father Nguyen Van Ly, a Catholic priest has been waging a new campaign for true religious freedom along with his parishioners. His fighting words, "Religious Freedom or Death," inspired many followers and other major religions in Vietnam to join his campaign. A joint statement bearing signatures of Catholic, Buddhist and Hoa-Hao leaders were issued on 12/27/00 demanding the Vietnamese government to respect the rights to worship and to cease all forms of religious persecution.

Two days from now, on 2/7/01, the Hoa-Hao Buddhist Association will organize a large prayer service in the southern province of An-Giang for peace and religious freedom. A day later in the city of Hue, starting on 2/8/01, Thua Thien-Hue Buddhist Clergy Council will organize a week long religious service to pray for human rights in Vietnam and for the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam to be free from government's persecution.

In response to these developments, Vietnamese-Americans are organizing a national campaign to lobby the U.S. Congress for support in creating pressure on the Vietnamese government. Delegates from various Vietnamese-American communities across the United States will be in Washington D.C. on February 12 and 13 to meet with elected officials. In scheduled consultations with officials, the delegation is expected to discuss religious persecution in Vietnam, the current efforts by the major religions in Vietnam for religious freedom, and measures to create pressure on the Vietnamese government.

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