Hanoi slams US human rights law
Brands information in legislation 'inaccurate and biased'
- ucanews.com reporter, Hanoi
- Vietnam
- March 9, 2012
The government in Hanoi has lashed out at a "biased" US congressional law which restricts assistance to the communist nation until it makes “substantial progress” on its human rights record.
On passing the Vietnam Human Rights Act 2012, on Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee said people in Vietnam are suffering from more repression and denial of their fundamental human rights.
Religious, political and ethnic persecution continues and in many cases is increasing, it added.
The committee also accused the Vietnamese government of turning a blind eye to forced labor and sex traffickers.
The bill prohibits any increase in non-humanitarian assistance to Vietnam beyond year 2011 levels unless it makes substantial progress in establishing democracy, promoting human rights, respecting freedom of religion, expression, assembly and association.
It also seeks the release of all religious and political prisoners – such as Catholic priest Nguyen Van Ly -- independent journalists and labor activists.
The bill drew an angry response from Hanoi.
The bill “provides completely inaccurate and biased information about the country’s execution of human rights,” foreign ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi told reporters yesterday.
“Over the past few years, his government had made significant efforts to safeguard human rights in civil, political, economic, cultural and social affairs, which have been recognized by the international community,” he said.
“Any differences regarding rights issues should be discussed frankly in a spirit of goodwill and mutual respect to foster understanding and help strengthen relations among nations,” he added.
On passing the Vietnam Human Rights Act 2012, on Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee said people in Vietnam are suffering from more repression and denial of their fundamental human rights.
Religious, political and ethnic persecution continues and in many cases is increasing, it added.
The committee also accused the Vietnamese government of turning a blind eye to forced labor and sex traffickers.
The bill prohibits any increase in non-humanitarian assistance to Vietnam beyond year 2011 levels unless it makes substantial progress in establishing democracy, promoting human rights, respecting freedom of religion, expression, assembly and association.
It also seeks the release of all religious and political prisoners – such as Catholic priest Nguyen Van Ly -- independent journalists and labor activists.
The bill drew an angry response from Hanoi.
The bill “provides completely inaccurate and biased information about the country’s execution of human rights,” foreign ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi told reporters yesterday.
“Over the past few years, his government had made significant efforts to safeguard human rights in civil, political, economic, cultural and social affairs, which have been recognized by the international community,” he said.
“Any differences regarding rights issues should be discussed frankly in a spirit of goodwill and mutual respect to foster understanding and help strengthen relations among nations,” he added.
