Vietnam Human
Rights Network and Defend the Defenders’ Joint Open Letter to Vice President
Kamala Harris
Press release For immediate release May 04, 2021 Ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris’ announced trip to Vietnam in August 2021, the Vietnam Human Rights Network and Defend the Defenders published a joint open letter asking the Vice President to raise the issues of human rights violation during her upcoming discussions with the Vietnamese government’s officials. The open letter also calls on Vice President Harris to persuade the Vietnamese government to immediately stop human rights activists’ arbitrary detention and unconditionally release prisoners held for political and religious reasons. Following is the full text of the open letter.
JOINT OPEN LETTER TO VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA D. HARRIS
Protecting Human Rights Activists in Vietnam August
04, 2021 The
Honorable Kamala D. Harris Vice
President of the United States of America The
White House Office
of the Vice President 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500 Dear
Vice President Harris, We
sincerely appreciate your administration’s effort to place democracy and human
rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. Secretary Antony J. Blinken has
affirmed, “the Biden-Harris administration will stand against human rights
abuses wherever they occur, regardless of whether the perpetrators are
adversaries or partners.” As your trip to Vietnam and Singapore approaches, we
respectfully ask that you continue your dedication to human rights as the
highest-ranking U.S. official present. Our
2020-2021 Report on Human Rights in Vietnam shows that the Vietnamese government
continues to violate fundamental human rights, from discrimination, arbitrary
arrest and detention, and violation of trial fairness to restrict freedom of
religion, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of association. From
January 2020 until May 31, 2021, Vietnam arrested and detained 79 people who had
peacefully exercised their fundamental rights. As of May 31, 2021, 288 prisoners
of conscience were held in harsh physical and administrative conditions.(1)
In light of these human rights violations and restrictions of freedom, we urge
that you demonstrate leadership in promoting human rights by:
-
encouraging and persuading the Vietnamese government to undertake reforms and
bring about substantive improvements in the country’s human rights situation;
-
calling on the Vietnamese government to immediately and unconditionally end the
arbitrary detention of peaceful dissidents and release all prisoners of
conscience and political prisoners.
We also urge you to meet with dissidents and the families of prisoners of
conscience to demonstrate your strong advocacy for human rights and compassion
with those who have courageously sacrificed for the just cause. Finally, we
stand by and are ready to assist you with expert advice, information, and
references in preparation for your trip to Vietnam.
We wish you a safe and very successful visit to Asia.
Respectfully,
Tung B Nguyen
President of Vietnam Human Rights Network
Ngu Q Vu
Director of Defend the Defenders
(1) please refer to our Report on Human Rights in Vietnam 2020-2021, available
at: https://vietnamhumanrights.net/english/documents/Report_2020_2021_net.pdf
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