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Human rights campaigner: Christian Marchant, a political officer at the US embassy in Hanoi, who was allegedly attacked by Vietnamese police |
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| Nguyen Van Ly muzzled in court by Viet cops |
By Bridget Johnson
The Hill (Washington DC, USA)
A member of the congressional caucuses on Vietnam and human rights lashed out at Hanoi for roughing up a U.S. diplomat who was attempting to visit a well-known dissident.
Christian Marchant, a political officer with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, was attempting to meet with Father Nguyen Van Ly, a democracy advocate being held under house arrest. Ly told Radio Free Asia that the diplomat was "wrestled down to the ground right in the middle of the road" in front of hundreds of witnesses.
"We are aware of and deeply concerned by the incident and have officially registered a strong protest with the Vietnamese government in Hanoi," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Wednesday.
Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement Friday that Marchant's legs were repeatedly slammed in a car door in violation of international laws protecting diplomats.
"This attack on a U.S. diplomat is beyond reprehensible," Royce said. "My staff has met with this political officer and can confirm that he is no threat to Vietnam. That, however, didn’t prevent his legs from being crushed by Vietnamese officials.
"In the past, the Vietnamese government has reserved the use of its thuggish tactics for peaceful dissidents and those deemed as threats to the government’s stranglehold on power. It’s now become clear that no one is immune from abuse," Royce added.
On the same day of the attack, Royce introduced H.R.156, the Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act, a bill that imposes sanctions on Vietnamese government officials who are complicit in human rights abuses committed against the people of Vietnam.
The bill resurrects an effort by former Rep. Joseph "Anh" Cao (R-La.), who introduced the sanctions bill, co-sponsored by Royce and others, in November.
Royce also introduced a bill Wednesday that calls on the State Department to list Vietnam as a "country of particular concern" in regards to religious freedom.
That bill has five co-sponsors: Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), Chris Smith (R-N.J.), and Frank Wolf (R-Va.).
"It is widely understood that Vietnam has backslid on every human rights front," said Royce. "This attack on a U.S. diplomat is further proof of why we need to make human rights discussions a top priority, and shows why we need to relist Vietnam as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ for violations of religious freedom. Maybe this assault will convince the State Department to make that listing."
14 comments:
Beware Vietcong government:
1) Vietcong should respect international law regarding the handling of diplomats attributed or posted to its own country. Otherwise there could be repraisal by the USA. Last year Anmerican police rouhged up a Chinese diplomat in China own diplimatic compound in Houston Texas. The Chinese diplomat was taken to hospital.
2)In the war against Serbia in 1999? the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade was intentionally bombed by the USAF.
bomb them again, this is a good excuse to test out advance US weaponry. Viet police are fun targets.
Dung tin nhung vi cong san noi, hay nhin ky nhung vi cong san lam.
Vietnam do such thing to the US Diplomats. What they can do to Khmer Krom???
yes, imagine what they do to khmer krom indigenous people!
Not supprise at all, that the prize US have to pay for pleasing VN. US always want VN control CB, because a strong VN can help US block China expension to Southeast Asia.
US want to partner with vietnam to stop china, wait until viet change their mind and turn against america, then US will have a rude awakening! an example of taste your own medicine? US is better off partner with cambodia, instead, you know!
work together ,any thing possible .
Vietnam knows full well that US won't have any gut to punish them because US needs need them to slow China influence in Southeast Asia and US can't afford for another war.
This is just the begining, waiti you will more action from Viet.
From Vietnamese farmer.
It is the right time to put the Vietcongs on trial. These Vietcongs have no respect for human life and for humanity.
Communists and dictators are one and the same.
The Vietcongs must be stopped once and for all in order to free the peoples of Vietnam.
Free Vietnam NOW!
North Vietnam, south Vietnam, they're all one fucking Viet Cong. They fought yesterday, they kiss and make up today, they fight tomorrow, they will kiss and make up the day after tomorrow. If you take side with one of them, you will be their enemy when they stop fighting. They have the same language, same attitude, and same ambition. Where ever they put their foot down, they want to take over. Vietnam is a type of disease that spread when it can. Nixon should have nuke the motherfuckers when he had a chance. American shouldn't have withdrew.
American deserve to be treated like that, USA always favor Viet than Khmer, now what American black president get is punched in face by Viet.
Well does American need Vietnam to stop China influence in Asia, or does f*cking Vietnam need America to protect F**king Vietcong from China?. Well we'll find out in 2012. I think these evil axis better off stop rebuild their infrastructure, such as roads , buildings etc. because it going to be destroy any way all the progress will be a waste. Human kind so evil.
Vietnam need to be very very careful when trying to make friend with America, which were enemy not too long a go. America wants to contain China from influencing the rest of Asia. Obviously, America see China as a 21th century Domino Theory effect. According to America, that is the greatest threat to its interest in Asia. China is Asia's largest economy and military. Those that chose to be an enemeis with China and friends of America will suffer greatly if and when war broke out between China and America. Vietnam is border with China. First thing China going to do is to invade Vietnam. This would be Vietnam worst nightmare. Remember Chinese are not like American. Chinese People liberation Army are one of the most well trained and highest dicipline military in the world. They are as determine fighters as the Viet Cong, Khmer Rouge or the Japanese in WW2. Can Vietnam stop or slow down the onslaught of PLA invasion? Possibly not. Will America willing to protect Vietnam as it had trying to protect south Vietnam? Possibly not. Then what is that telling Hanoi, Vietnam. Stop being a wildly obnoxious yellow monkey and behave yourself and cease your ambition of expansionism.
Vietnam has no neighborly friends. Cambodia and Laos has no choice but to be friend with Vietnam. They are being politically arm-twisting to serve Hanoi cause. Vietnam arrogant is foring and pushing smaller naighbors. That's how Vietnam make friends. China is beefing up economic and military support to Laos and Cambodia. Soon these two countries will not be push around by Vietnam because China will be a big big brother. If and when things broke out between America and China, things might also broke out between Vietnam vs. Cambodia and Laos. Laos and Cambodia have a lot score to settle with Vietnam.
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