U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers calling on Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to release dozens of political prisoners held on trumped up charges and to issue passports to individuals accepted by the US Refugee Resettlement Program. 

    In a letter co-signed by Representatives Tom Lantos, Ed Royce, Don Payne, and Jeff Fortenberry, the Members of Congress named 31 individuals imprisoned or subjected to other restrictions of movement simply on account of their religious or political beliefs. They also cited five individuals approved for resettlement by the US government as refugees to whom the Vietnamese government has denied passports. The letter was addressed to the Prime Minister in light of his visit to the US and claims of openness while here.

    Smith said, “If Prime Minister Phan Van Khai is serious about improved relations with the US, he must release political prisoners, allow his people the freedom to emigrate and work to improve upon his country’s abysmal human rights record. At this point, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary and pleas of well respected human rights groups, he won’t even acknowledge that his country holds political prisoners.”

    Smith said, “Any slight move against the government’s rigid restrictions on religious freedom and freedom of speech will land you in prison in Vietnam. True freedom of movement and travel still does not exist, especially for political dissidents.”

    “The cases we cite include Pham Hong Son who was arrested for translating an article from the State Department website titled ‘What is Democracy,’ Than Van Truong, a Baptist preacher committed to a mental asylum after attempting to evangelize communist party officials, and Pastor Lap Ma, a member of the Christian Missionary Alliance who was forced to leave his Church and forced into internal exile, who now cannot receive a passport,” said Smith.

    As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, Smith held a hearing on human rights in Vietnam earlier this week. Smith said, “The Vietnam hearing confirmed once again for members of Congress what we have thought all along and feared: despite improved trade relations with the US and economic growth, the human rights situation in Vietnam remains deplorable – especially in the areas of free speech and religious freedom.”

    Smith added, “We will continue to track every case on the list as well as other cases that are brought to our attention until every political prisoner is free in Vietnam and those who want to travel have the ability to do so. And we will continue to pressure the government to grant its people religious freedom and other basic rights.” 

    Smith has also been the sponsor of the Vietnam Human Rights Act, legislation designed to promote human rights and religious freedom in Vietnam that has passed the House in various forms on three separate occasions but has stalled in the Senate each time.