Today, Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), an original cosponsor of the Vietnam Human Rights Act, welcomed U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak to a townhall meeting for the Vietnamese American community to discuss U.S.-Vietnam relations. Royce has made human rights his number one priority in U.S.-Vietnam policy.
"Your predecessor left Vietnam listing the lack of improvement on human rights as his 'biggest disappointment.' I hope that you will be able to leave Hanoi with it as your biggest accomplishment, but unfortunately, the last year hasn't pointed in that direction, as repression as intensified," said Royce.
"Ambassador, I was surprised that the three areas you focused on in a recent op-ed discussing the U.S.-Vietnamese relationship were education, the environment, and regional security. What about human rights?" said Royce during his speech.
Political dissidents are routinely silenced and religious freedom is systematically suppressed in Vietnam, which has continuously ranked "Not Free" by Freedom House.
"If we are going to bolster our relations with Vietnam, it must embrace political pluralism in all of its forms. Silencing dissidents and suppressing religious freedoms are not the ways towards a close partnership," said Royce.
"I remain very concerned about freedom of religion in Vietnam. The State Department has seen positive steps - removing Vietnam from the list of 'countries of particular concern.' But I don't see it. Religious freedom remains under attack in Vietnam and the recent attacks on the Catholic Church are evidence of this," said Royce.
Rep. Ed Royce is ranking member on the Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment Subcommittee. Additionally Royce serves on the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam and the Caucus on Human Rights.
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