Remarks on Vietnam in the US HumanRights Report 2009 are biased and built on inaccurate information aboutthe real situation, in the same vein as the one-sided thinkingrepeatedly used in previous reports.
Although acknowledging positive changes in Vietnam, the report failedto provide a just or accurate overview and faced strong public protest,the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) said in its commentary on March 15.
Vietnam’s consistent policy is to respect and ensure humanrights, which it considers both the goal of development and the meanstowards it. The country has, over the recent past, reaped greatachievements in ensuring human rights in all fields--from the civil,political, and economic, to the cultural and social aspects—which haveearned recognition from the international community.
At the Geneva meeting last May, the UN Human Rights Council’s WorkingGroup lauded Vietnam’s outstanding achievements, especially in povertyreduction and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.
The media in Vietnam has also been fulfilling its vital role innational construction and development, the commentary said, emphasisingthe State of Vietnam’s facilitation of the growth of the media bybuilding a full legal framework and policies to ensure freedom ofspeech and freedom of the press. As clear evidence of this, the Stateof Vietnam has been revising the law on the press and issuing moreregulations, in line with the specific conditions pertaining to theculture and history of Vietnamese society and in accordance withinternational law.
The State of Vietnam is also consistent in its policy of solidarityamong all ethnic groups and religions, and the creation of conditionsfor all people and religions to develop. That is why activitiesconcerning religion and belief in Vietnam have rapidly and stronglydeveloped in recent years.
In saying “The government persisted in placing restrictions on theorganised activities of religious groups....”, the report hasintentionally ignored a major event by the Vietnam Buddhist Sanghaearly this month. A solemn ceremony was held to welcome a Buddhist sari fromIndia to Southeast Asia’s largest pagoda, Bai Dinh, in Vietnam with theparticipation of 15,000 people –evidence of the people’s trust in thesincerity of the Government’s policy on religious freedom.
Clearly, the conclusions of the US Department of State’s Human RightsReport 2009 turn a blind eye to the actual situation in Vietnam, anddon’t even represent the thoughts and opinions of all American people.
There are no religious or political prisoners in Vietnam . Those namedas activists for human rights and democracy in the report are, in fact,violators of Vietnamese law.
Recent measures taken by the State of Vietnam recently are intended tomaintain socio-political stability to ensure development. Those whoviolate the law threaten the country’s welfare, and are accordinglypunished by the law.
The plain, honest truth is, itself, the best argument to counter thepoint of view of US authorities, the commentary says, noting thatVietnam is always willing to cooperate and hold dialogues with nationsand international organisations, including the US, to clarify theseissues.
To increase mutual understanding about differences, including thoseregarding human rights, only dialogue is really useful and appropriate,in the context of new opportunities for cooperation which are openingup in the light of improved Vietnam-US relations./.
Although acknowledging positive changes in Vietnam, the report failedto provide a just or accurate overview and faced strong public protest,the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) said in its commentary on March 15.
Vietnam’s consistent policy is to respect and ensure humanrights, which it considers both the goal of development and the meanstowards it. The country has, over the recent past, reaped greatachievements in ensuring human rights in all fields--from the civil,political, and economic, to the cultural and social aspects—which haveearned recognition from the international community.
At the Geneva meeting last May, the UN Human Rights Council’s WorkingGroup lauded Vietnam’s outstanding achievements, especially in povertyreduction and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.
The media in Vietnam has also been fulfilling its vital role innational construction and development, the commentary said, emphasisingthe State of Vietnam’s facilitation of the growth of the media bybuilding a full legal framework and policies to ensure freedom ofspeech and freedom of the press. As clear evidence of this, the Stateof Vietnam has been revising the law on the press and issuing moreregulations, in line with the specific conditions pertaining to theculture and history of Vietnamese society and in accordance withinternational law.
The State of Vietnam is also consistent in its policy of solidarityamong all ethnic groups and religions, and the creation of conditionsfor all people and religions to develop. That is why activitiesconcerning religion and belief in Vietnam have rapidly and stronglydeveloped in recent years.
In saying “The government persisted in placing restrictions on theorganised activities of religious groups....”, the report hasintentionally ignored a major event by the Vietnam Buddhist Sanghaearly this month. A solemn ceremony was held to welcome a Buddhist sari fromIndia to Southeast Asia’s largest pagoda, Bai Dinh, in Vietnam with theparticipation of 15,000 people –evidence of the people’s trust in thesincerity of the Government’s policy on religious freedom.
Clearly, the conclusions of the US Department of State’s Human RightsReport 2009 turn a blind eye to the actual situation in Vietnam, anddon’t even represent the thoughts and opinions of all American people.
There are no religious or political prisoners in Vietnam . Those namedas activists for human rights and democracy in the report are, in fact,violators of Vietnamese law.
Recent measures taken by the State of Vietnam recently are intended tomaintain socio-political stability to ensure development. Those whoviolate the law threaten the country’s welfare, and are accordinglypunished by the law.
The plain, honest truth is, itself, the best argument to counter thepoint of view of US authorities, the commentary says, noting thatVietnam is always willing to cooperate and hold dialogues with nationsand international organisations, including the US, to clarify theseissues.
To increase mutual understanding about differences, including thoseregarding human rights, only dialogue is really useful and appropriate,in the context of new opportunities for cooperation which are openingup in the light of improved Vietnam-US relations./.
