Those responsible for murder and other human rights abuses of Catholics in Con Dau, Vietnam should be investigated and held accountable, said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith today at a hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
Those responsible for murder and other human rights abuses of Catholics in Con Dau, Vietnam should be investigated and held accountable, said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith today at a hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
"This past Sunday, August 15, 2010, marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of Con Dau, a Catholic village in the Diocese of Da Nang, Central Vietnam. What should have been a joyous occasion has been marred by unspeakable violence," Smith said. "A few months ago during a religious funeral procession, Vietnamese authorities and riot police disrupted that sad and solemn occasion, shooting tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd, beating mourners with batons and electric rods. More than 100 were injured, dozens were arrested, and several remain in custody and have reportedly been severely beaten and tortured. At least two innocent people have been murdered by the Vietnamese police." Click here to read Congressman Smith's remarks.
Smith (NJ-04) also highlighted a House resolution that Reps. Ahn "Joseph" Cao (LA-02), Frank Wolf (VA-10) and he recently introduced to condemn and deplore the violence, threats, fines and harassment in Con Dau. Click here to read H Res 1572, which calls for the appointment of a United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Vietnam to investigate the ongoing and serious human rights violations in Vietnam.
