From: The Honorable Loretta Sanchez
Sent By:
erik.ruiz@mail.house.gov
Date: 5/12/2016

Supported by Reporters Without Borders

Current Signers (11): DeSaulnier, Ellison, Honda, Lee, Lofgren, Lowenthal, McGovern, Napolitano, Peters, Sanchez, Smith.

Dear Colleague,

I invite you to join me in signing a letter addressed to President Obama regarding his upcoming official visit to Vietnam.

Vietnam continues to detain and incarcerate human rights advocates and suppress freedom of expression. Additionally, the Hanoi government continues to step up its efforts to restrict access to information.

In the run-up to President Obama’s visit the Vietnamese authorities have detained renowned human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai and have reportedly blocked U.S. Consular officials from visiting Tran Minh Nhat, a former political prisoner.

This letter respectfully urges the President to address the following:

• Address the serious concerns about the Vietnamese government’s ongoing arbitrary detention of human rights activists and stifling of freedom of expression.
• Call for the release of human rights defenders: Father Nguyen Van Ly, Nguyen Dang Minh Man, Ho Duc Hoa, and Dang Xuan Dieu, and Tran Huynh Duy Thuc.
• Take the time to meet directly with human rights defenders and the families of imprisoned activists.
• Publicly articulate that a Vietnam grounded in democratic principles and respect for human rights is a prerequisite for a true comprehensive partnership between our two countries.

President Obama can make a profoundly positive difference during his visit. Please join me in urging him to address these critically important issues.

Attached to this letter will be a list of over 100 prisoners of conscience currently incarcerated by the Vietnamese government.

If you would like to sign-on to this letter or get more information please contact Erik Ruiz at
erik.ruiz@mail.house.gov.

Sincerely,

/s/

Loretta Sanchez

Member of Congress

—————————————————

Dear President Obama:

Your upcoming visit to Vietnam is an opportunity to define the future of US-Vietnam relations. We hope you will seize this opportunity to engage directly with the Vietnamese people and to send a clear message that America stands with the Vietnamese who yearn
for freedom.

We are deeply troubled by the recent wave of political trials in Vietnam, the continued harassment and imprisonment of peaceful political activists, and the stepped up efforts by the Hanoi government to restrict information.

In the run up to your visit, the Vietnamese authorities detained renowned human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai and convicted six activists for so-called “propaganda against the state.” Security police have also routinely harassed and beaten activists as a
way to silence dissent. According to news reports, the wife of political prisoner Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh was beaten on April 14 by police thugs after she met with a delegation of American officials. Also in April, US Consular officials were reportedly blocked
from visiting former political prisoner Tran Minh Nhat who has been persecuted relentlessly for his peaceful activism.

Meanwhile, Hanoi continues to place restrictions on the right of Vietnamese to receive and impart information. The recent “Law on Information” seems to be an Orwellian attempt to restrict access to information. According to the latest research by Reporters
Without Borders, Vietnam ranks an appalling 175 out of 180 countries in press freedom.

We urge you to convey our serious concerns about the Vietnamese government’s ongoing arbitrary detention of human rights activists and repression of freedom of expression.

We especially urge you to make it a priority to call for the release of the brave human rights defenders serving the longest and most unjust terms: Father Nguyen Van Ly (8 years), Nguyen Dang Minh Man (8 years), Ho Duc Hoa (13 years), Dang Xuan Dieu (13
years), and Tran Huynh Duy Thuc (16 years).

Enclosed is a list of over 100 prisoners of conscience. We hope you will advocate not only for their release, but for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience.

Additionally, in keeping with your efforts to meet and consult more regularly with civil society organizations around the world, making time in your schedule to meet directly with human rights defenders and especially the families of imprisoned activists
would send a strong signal about the U.S. commitment to championing liberty.

We would also like to express our deep concern with any potential lifting of the ban on lethal weapons sales to Vietnam.  Vietnam must demonstrate a serious commitment to improving its human rights record before the Administration considers such a move.

Finally, we urge you to publicly articulate what’s required for a true comprehensive partnership between our two countries: a Vietnam grounded on democratic principles and respect for human rights. We believe that this is not only the fervent desire of the
Vietnamese people but also how history will judge the success of your administration’s outreach toward Vietnam.

Thank you for your consideration.