US envoy asks
Vietnam to release five prisoners of conscience
AFP- Sept 22, 2005
US ambassador Michael Marine asked Vietnam Thursday to free five prisoners of
conscience but also said there had been some progress in the communist country's
human rights record.
"There are people who are in prison in this country who should not be,"
Marine said during a meeting with reporters.
Journalist Nguyen Vu Binh, cyber-dissident Pham Hong Son, essayist Nguyen Khac
Toan, activist Tran Van Luong and former South Vietnamese police officer Phan
Van Ban were the five names he listed.
Marine welcomed several releases of dissidents this year but indicated that
Washington was watching for more action.
"The list has changed all the time but I would like to see it without any name,"
he said.
Calling for more such releases "is something I've done on several occasions,
just to try and keep the issue at the forefront of our discussions."
Marine also noted that Washington would be deciding soon on Vietnam's continued
inclusion in the list of Countries of Particular Concern for violation of
religious freedoms.
"There will be a decision taken soon by the secretary of state because it needs
to be done on an annual basis. We have to wait to see what she decides.
"While there has been progress (in Vietnam's human rights record)... I still
hear of problems," Marine said.
"It's an improving picture. We are in a very constructive dialogue with the
Vietnamese authorities."
In May this year, a few weeks before Prime Minister Phan Van Khai made a
historic US visit, the US State Department said Vietnam had started easing
religious restrictions as part of an accord.