Congressman Russell at a meeting with Vietnamese American activists on Aug 18
Steven Dane Russell, a member of the U.S.’s House of Representatives in Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district, has decided to adopt one Vietnamese prisoner of conscience in a bid to promote for unconditional release of political prisoners in the Southeast Asian nation.
by Vu Quoc Ngu, August 22, 2015
Steven Dane Russell, a member of the U.S.’s House of Representatives in Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district, has decided to adopt one Vietnamese prisoner of conscience in a bid to demand for unconditional release of political prisoners in the Southeast Asian nation.
Congressman Russell announced his decision at a meeting with Vietnamese American activists in his office in Oklahoma on August 18. He pledged to raise concerns on Vietnam’s violations on human rights and religious freedom at an international meeting between the Southeast Asian nations and the U.S. in Taiwan later this month.
The Boat People SOS, an organization of Vietnamese American fighting for human rights and democracy in Vietnam, said it will propose Congressman Russell to adopt Tran Vu Anh Binh, a music compositor arrested in 2011 by Vietnam’s communist government for his patriotic songs, and still is imprisoned in the one-party state.
Mr. Russell will join many other U.S.’s lawmakers who have adopted Vietnamese prisoners of conscience under the Defending Freedoms Project (DFP) launched in 2012 of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. Congress in conjunction with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and Amnesty International USA. The DFP aims to increase attention and support for human rights by encouraging Members of Congress to adopt cases and advocate on behalf of prisoners of conscience around the world, including Vietnam.
Under the project, dozens of Vietnamese prisoners of conscience, including entrepreneur Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Catholic priest Nguyen Van Ly, land rights activist Bui Thi Minh Hang, independent blogger Ta Phong Tan, and compositor Viet Khang have been adopted by U.S.’s legislators.
Under international pressure, especially of U.S.’s Congressmen, Vietnam has been forced to release many political prisoners, including legal expert Cu Huy Ha Vu, independent blogger Nguyen Van Hai (aka Dieu Cay) and chemist Dinh Dang Dinh.
Meanwhile, the Vietnamese communist government just decided to grant amnesty for 18,331 inmates on the occasion of the National Day [September 02], however, only one prisoner convicted for activities related to national security is included in the list which will be submitted to the state president for approval. No prisoners of conscience will be released on the occasion, state media reported on August 22.
The Communist Party of Vietnam and its government in recent years have shown some tolerance for expressions of popular discontent and religious expression. However, individuals who step beyond the accepted bounds of political dissent are often dealt with quickly and harshly using various Vietnamese laws that limit challenges or criticism of the ruling party or its government.
The crackdown on online dissent has been particularly notable. Forbidden topics include challenges to the authority of the communist party, perceived threats to Vietnam’s sovereign integrity, and criticism of top party or government officials.
The government’s heightened sensitivity and stiffened response may be due to its concerns about growing public discontent over alleged government corruption, land seizures by government institutions and officials, worsened economic conditions, and a Vietnamese sentiment expressed through demonstrations and social media that Hanoi has been unable to prevent China from asserting its maritime claims at Vietnam’s expense.
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August 22, 2015
One More U.S. Congressman Agrees to Adopt Vietnamese Prisoner of Conscience
by Nhan Quyen • [Human Rights], Tran Vu Anh Binh (Hoang Nhat Thong)
Congressman Russell at a meeting with Vietnamese American activists on Aug 18
by Vu Quoc Ngu, August 22, 2015
Steven Dane Russell, a member of the U.S.’s House of Representatives in Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district, has decided to adopt one Vietnamese prisoner of conscience in a bid to demand for unconditional release of political prisoners in the Southeast Asian nation.
Congressman Russell announced his decision at a meeting with Vietnamese American activists in his office in Oklahoma on August 18. He pledged to raise concerns on Vietnam’s violations on human rights and religious freedom at an international meeting between the Southeast Asian nations and the U.S. in Taiwan later this month.
The Boat People SOS, an organization of Vietnamese American fighting for human rights and democracy in Vietnam, said it will propose Congressman Russell to adopt Tran Vu Anh Binh, a music compositor arrested in 2011 by Vietnam’s communist government for his patriotic songs, and still is imprisoned in the one-party state.
Mr. Russell will join many other U.S.’s lawmakers who have adopted Vietnamese prisoners of conscience under the Defending Freedoms Project (DFP) launched in 2012 of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. Congress in conjunction with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and Amnesty International USA. The DFP aims to increase attention and support for human rights by encouraging Members of Congress to adopt cases and advocate on behalf of prisoners of conscience around the world, including Vietnam.
Under the project, dozens of Vietnamese prisoners of conscience, including entrepreneur Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Catholic priest Nguyen Van Ly, land rights activist Bui Thi Minh Hang, independent blogger Ta Phong Tan, and compositor Viet Khang have been adopted by U.S.’s legislators.
Under international pressure, especially of U.S.’s Congressmen, Vietnam has been forced to release many political prisoners, including legal expert Cu Huy Ha Vu, independent blogger Nguyen Van Hai (aka Dieu Cay) and chemist Dinh Dang Dinh.
Meanwhile, the Vietnamese communist government just decided to grant amnesty for 18,331 inmates on the occasion of the National Day [September 02], however, only one prisoner convicted for activities related to national security is included in the list which will be submitted to the state president for approval. No prisoners of conscience will be released on the occasion, state media reported on August 22.
The Communist Party of Vietnam and its government in recent years have shown some tolerance for expressions of popular discontent and religious expression. However, individuals who step beyond the accepted bounds of political dissent are often dealt with quickly and harshly using various Vietnamese laws that limit challenges or criticism of the ruling party or its government.
The crackdown on online dissent has been particularly notable. Forbidden topics include challenges to the authority of the communist party, perceived threats to Vietnam’s sovereign integrity, and criticism of top party or government officials.
The government’s heightened sensitivity and stiffened response may be due to its concerns about growing public discontent over alleged government corruption, land seizures by government institutions and officials, worsened economic conditions, and a Vietnamese sentiment expressed through demonstrations and social media that Hanoi has been unable to prevent China from asserting its maritime claims at Vietnam’s expense.