PREFACE
About the VCA
Witnesses at hearings: from VCA, and from overseas
Quotes
LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CAUSE AND EXTENT OF SUPPRESSION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
2.1 Cause
2.2 Recent international documentations on religious suppression
2.2.1 The Amor report - summary of some key points
2.2.2 The U.S. 1998 Human Rights Practices report - some extracts
2.2.3 Amnesty International's 1999 report - relevant extracts
2.2.4 Human Rights Watch's World Report 1999 - some extracts
2.3 Murders, imprisonment, and harassment of people for religious beliefs
2.3.1 Murders
2.3.2 Concentration camps
2.3.3 Imprisonments, house arrests, and arrests (See Attachment 1)
Some extracts from Attachment 1:
A prison called home
2.4 Confiscation, destruction, abuse, and non-return of church properties (See Attachment 2)
2.5 Puppet churches
If you can't beat them, get them
No puppet Catholic churches, but
2.6 Decree 31/CP: administrative detention, forced labor, indoctrination, mutual distrusts
Administrative Detention Decree 31/CP
Why Administrative Detention?
Not just detention: forced labor, indoctrination, and mutual distrust
Building a society in which everyone distrusts everyone else
2.7 Decree No. 26/1999/ND-CP: A cynical anti-religion anti-church tool (see Attachment 3)
3. IMPLICATIONS OF SUPPRESSION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN VIETNAM
3.1 Implications for Australia
3.1.1 Australia's aid could help to reduce religious suppression
3.1.2 Implications for Australian industry
3.1.3 Australia's dealings with Vietnamese State-owned enterprises (SOEs)
3.1.4 The world is possibly trending towards aid conditionality
3.1.5 Potential factor in cultural exchanges? In trade too?
3.2 Implications on freedom of association
3.3 Implications on freedom of assembly
3.4 Implications on freedom of press - An Inquiry into freedom of the press?
Forbidding the independent publication of religious books etc.
Media within churches and religious organisations are forbidden
Vietnam government is the worst oppressor of freedom of the press in Asia
A future Inquiry into freedom of the press?
3.5 Implications on privacy
3.6 Some societal implications of suppression of human rights
Multiplier effect: population too afraid to speak out, more willing to leave
The corruption jungle of Vietnam
A generation of youth not encouraged to develop positive values
4. RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation 1 - Religious freedom as a factor in aid program
Consistent with the government's new framework for human rights in aid
Recommendation 2 - Funding for churches' aid work
AusAid should deal with churches, including independent ones
Ha Noi's potential displeasure should not deter Australia
Half-share for independent churches and religious organisations
Assisting AusAid
Recommendation 3 - Advisory Group with emphasis on practical work
This Recommendation is not just about aid
NGO involvement is critical
Practical work and follow up
Incremental increases
Affordable and cost-efficient
Recommendation 4 - Radio Australia's role
Consistent with freedom of the press
Potential benefits
Communications with the community and with the Sub-Committee
Recommendation 5 - Regular representations, visits, and tabling
Negative government response to VCA's current similar proposals
Benefits of implementing this Recommendation
Six-monthly reporting
Recommendation 6 - Human rights dialogue with emphasis on results, consultation, and accountability
The details make the difference
Parliamentary and community involvement
Recommendation 7 - Improving effectiveness of human rights education aid, and including human rights in education aid
Human rights education aid should be reviewed, just like other aspects of aid
Legislators and media workers
Introducing sponsored students to concepts of human rights and democracy
Recommendation 8 - Study of human rights on the agenda of multilateral entities
Questions worth looking into
Some potential benefits
Terms of reference and conduct of study
Notes to Recommendations 2, 4, and 6 - Officials' job appraisals
5. SUMMARY
ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 2
ATTACHMENT 3
ATTACHMENT 4
ATTACHMENT 5
ATTACHMENT 6
ATTACHMENT 7
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