Press Release

Press Release

July 16, 2001

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren
16th Congressional District, California
zoelofgren.house.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Toni Wehman
(202) 225-3072

Lofgren Increases Pressure to Stop Vietnam Religious Persecution

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) has joined her colleagues Reps. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) and Tom Davis (R-VA) in condemning the recent crack down on religious freedoms in Vietnam. Together, they wrote letters to Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, U.S. Ambassador Pete Peterson, and Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The letters highlighted the persecution and harassment of religious leaders in Vietnam. In particular, they called attention to the cases of Father Nguyen Van Ly, Most Venerable Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang, and the Most Venerable Thich Quang Do. They also requested from Prime Minister Khai an update on the health and well being of these dissidents.

Excerpts of the letter:

“On May 16, 2001, the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and the Congressional Dialogue on Vietnam co-sponsored a hearing about religious freedom in Vietnam. Religious leaders from many different faiths testified about the continued violation of rights guaranteed to them under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”

“Father Nguyen Van Ly was arrested on May 17, 2001 and has been transferred to a military hospital near Hue, where his condition is uncertain. We understand that this is not the first time Father Ly has been punished by the authorities for the free practice of his religion. He has been under constant surveillance since 1977, when he was arrested for distributing two essays by Archbishop Nguyen Kim Dien that protested the lack of religious freedom in Vietnam.”

“The Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang, Patriarch of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, has been under house arrest without trial since 1982. He is critically ill and in need of serious medical attention. When the Most Venerable Thich Quang Do attempted to escort him to Saigon for medical treatment, Venerable Do was formally placed under house arrest. Presently, the security police maintain a 24-hour cordon around the Venerable Do’s pagoda. We respectfully request that you monitor these situations closely.”

“As we continue to move forward furthering relations between the United States and Vietnam, it is our hope that the United States will continue its scrutiny of Vietnam’s human rights record and treatment of religious leaders. As you prepare to visit Vietnam in late July we urge you to remember these brave dissidents and the countless other Vietnamese who are prisoners of conscience.”

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