Benjamin Gilman: “I commend the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Clay], the distinguished Chair of the House Post Office and Civil Service…”

“I commend the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Clay], the distinguished Chair of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee and our good minority member, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Myers] for bringing this important initiative before us today and I rise in strong of House Joint Resolution 333, a resolution to commemorate May 11, 1994, as Vietnam Human Rights Day. Vietnam remains one of the last communist countries in the world and maintains one of the most repressive political and social systems. Free expression is denied and most Vietnamese writers and poets have been denied the right to publish or compose since 1975. The Vietnamese constitution still designates the Communist party as the ``Force Leading the State and Society''. Vietnam's criminal law is used to punish nonviolent advocates of political pluralism, through charges such as attempting to overthrow the people's government or antisocialist propaganda. Even nonviolent political movements for democracy consisting of former national liberation front members such as the league of former revolutionaries have been repressed and its leaders remain under house arrest. Most prominent leaders from the Buddhist, Catholic, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao, and protestant faiths are in prison or under house arrest for expressing their religious beliefs. Mr. Chairman, there is more than enough reason to designate a day to educate the public and draw attention to the issue.…”