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THE MONTHLY REPORT OF INTERESTING NEWS ABOUT VIETNAM

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Courtesy Vietnamese American Concerned Citizens

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VIETNAM REVIEW

Bring facts to law and policy makers and the public

News

Commentary

Research paper

For the U.S. Congress - Professional Staff and Legislative Assistants for Foreign Policies and Concerned Citizens

February 2005

1. Vietnam: Action Needed Now to End Religious Persecution 02

2. Senior Aviation Official Commits Suicide To Escape Corruption Scam 04

3. Negotiations On Literary Works Protected By Copyright Enhanced 05

4. Vietnam Has To Conclude Negotiation With U.S. In July 05

5. Vietnam - Thich Huyen Quang Protests Repression Against the UBCV 06

6. VN’s WTO Bid On Right Track: U.S. Official 09

7. Vietnam Expects To Acquire Market Economy Status From EU 10

8. Vietnam Ranks World’s Fourth Largest Shrimp Exporter To U.S. 11

9. New Archbishop Appointed in Hanoi 11

10. Vietnam Affirms Sovereignty Over Hoang Sa And Truong Sa Archipelagoes 11

11. Vietnam Needs Foreign Expertise For Law Reforms To Meet WTO’s Rules 12

12. Vietnam PM Urges Recognition Of Protestants 13

13. Cultural Official Arrested For Assisting Illegal Departures 13

14. Buddhist Monk Thich Thien Minh Speaks Out After 26 Years In Prison 14

15. Condoleezza Rice required to act on Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Eritrea by March 15 16

16. Vietnam Recognizes New Vietnam Protestant Church Leadership 20

17. Vietnam Confirms Open Foreign Policy 20

18. EU Ban Urged On Communist Symbols 21

19. Vietnam Rights Record Under The Spotlight Despite Dissident Released 22

20. Vietnam War Was Won, Then Lost 23

21. Monthly Nha Bao Va Cong Luan Suspended After Two Issues 24

22. A Ray Of Hope For Diplomatic Ties Between The Holy See And Vietnam 25

23. Vietnam's Imprisoned Mennonites Appeal to People’s Supreme Court 26

Vietnamese American Concerned Citizens (VACC)

P.O. Box 59655, Potomac. MD 20859

VietnamReview2004@yahoo.com

Contact: Khai Q. Nguyen

Local contact: …....……….…………………………….

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Vietnam: Action Needed Now to End Religious Persecution

Vietnam Blacklisted as One of the Worst Violators of Religious Rights

For Immediate Release

HRW, New York, February 28, 2005

The U.S. needs to spell out specific actions that Vietnam should take to improve its dismal religious rights record, Human Rights Watch said today in an open letter to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The U.S. is currently engaged in talks with Vietnam over its designation as one of the worst violators of religious rights in the world.

Last September the U.S. State Department designated Vietnam as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for its systematic and egregious abuse of religious freedom under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act. Consultations on religious freedom between the U.S. and Vietnam are slated to end on March 15, 2005. Religious repression in Vietnam was highlighted in the State Department’s own annual human right report, which is being released today.

“Despite a few well-timed goodwill gestures, such as the recent release of several religious prisoners, Vietnam has in all other respects continued its exceptionally repressive policies,” said Brad Adams, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch. “Vietnam is notorious for persecuting and imprisoning believers of religions who attempt to peacefully and independently practice their faith.”

The Vietnamese government imposes strict controls over religious organizations and treats leaders of unauthorized religious groups with intense suspicion, branding many of them as subversives. Targeted in particular are ethnic minority Christians, Mennonites, and members of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV).

Ethnic Hmong Christians in the northwest provinces have been beaten, detained, and pressured by local authorities to renounce their religion and cease religious gatherings. At least ten Hmong Christians remain in detention in Lai Chau and Ha Giang provinces. Recently the military presence in several villages in Lai Chau has increased recently, causing many Hmong Christians to flee from their homes.

In the Central Highlands, the government has increased its repression of Montagnard Christians, particularly those thought to be following “Dega Protestantism.” This is a form of evangelical Christianity, banned by the Vietnamese government, which links it to the Montagnard movement for return of ancestral lands, religious freedom, and self-rule.

Since 2001 more than 180 Montagnard Christians – not only Dega church activists, but pastors, house church leaders, and Bible teachers as well - have been arrested and sentenced to prison, many on charges that they are violent separatists using their religion to “sow divisions among the people” and “undermine state and party unity.” There is no evidence that the Dega church movement has ever advocated violence. By arresting and imprisoning people for their religious beliefs or peaceful expression of their views, Vietnam is in violation of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, to which it is a party.

While one UBCV monk was included in a recent Tet New Year prisoner amnesty, the government continues to persecute UBCV members and withhold any recognition of this group, once the largest organization of the majority religion in the country. Many UBCV members remain confined without charges to their pagodas, which are under strict police surveillance.

Mennonites in Vietnam have also encountered difficulties. Four Mennonites currently remain in prison on charges of resisting police officers after a scuffle broke out in March 2004 with undercover policemen who had been monitoring their Ho Chi Minh City church. On two separate occasions during 2004, officials in Kontum province bulldozed a Mennonite chapel. In September and October 2004, police pressured Mennonites in Kontum and Gia Lai provinces to sign forms renouncing their religion.

While relations between the Vatican and Vietnam have warmed in recent years, at least three Roman Catholics remain in prison, where they are serving long prison sentences for conducting training courses and distributing religious books without government permission. They include sixty-four-year-old Father Pham Minh Tri, who has been imprisoned at Z30A prison in Dong Nai for the last eighteen years, despite suffering dementia for most of the past decade.

As the deadline for finalizing the CPC consultations approaches, earlier this month the Prime Minister issued Instruction No. 01/2005, “Guiding Protestant Religious Organizations.” It outlaws attempts by officials to force Protestant to abandon their religion, a practice Human Rights Watch has documented among ethnic minority Christians for years.

However, as with the Ordinance on Beliefs and Religion passed last year, this latest directive continues to require religious organizations to obtain government permission in order to operate, advancing Vietnam’s official stance that religious freedom is a privilege to be requested and granted by the government, rather than a fundamental human right.

“Hanoi needs to commit itself to deep-seated reform and meaningful action, rather than token gestures,” said Adams. “There are hundreds of religious prisoners waiting for release, and thousands more people waiting for the right to express their beliefs and practice their faith.”

The International Religious Freedom Act offers the President a menu of options to address abuses in countries designated as CPC, ranging from public condemnation, limiting certain kinds of assistance, to full sanctions. In addition to Vietnam, countries designated as CPC this year include China, Burma, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and Eritrea.

“The Bush Administration needs to send a strong message to the Vietnamese government that the U.S. will not tolerate this kind of persecution,” said Adams. “The U.S. should make sure that any pledges made during these consultations are backed up by prompt action on the part of the Vietnamese authorities.”

Proposed Benchmarks

The current talks between the U.S. and Vietnam aim to outline specific steps for Vietnam to take to improve its record on religious freedom, thereby avoiding stronger penalties by the U.S., including economic sanctions.

Human Rights Watch proposes that the State Department should make sure that the government of Vietnam has taken the following concrete steps as it evaluates Vietnam’s progress in improving its respect for religious freedom:

§ Allow independent religious organizations to freely conduct religious activities and govern themselves. Churches and denominations that do not choose to join one of the officially-authorized religious organizations whose governing boards are under the control of the government should be allowed to independently register with the government.

§ Release or grant amnesty to all people imprisoned or detained because of their non-violent religious beliefs and practices.

§ Investigate and punish those responsible for all instances of violence against religious believers, including by civilians acting in concert with government officials. Such incidents include the violent suppression of the April 2004 protests by Montagnards in the Central Highlands, and reports of torture, beatings, and killings of ethnic minority Protestants in both the central and northern highlands.

§ Investigate reports of suppression of Protestants, including arbitrary detention of Mennonites and evangelical Christians. Those responsible for these violations should be brought to justice.

§ Ensure that all domestic legislation addressing religious affairs is brought in conformity with international law, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Amend provisions in domestic law that criminalizes certain religious activities on the basis of imprecisely-defined “national security” crimes.

§ Amend the 2004 Ordinance on Beliefs and Religion to include a provision that prohibits forced renunciation ceremonies by government officials, linked to specific disciplinary measures for offenders.

§ Permit outside experts, including those from the United Nations and independent international human rights organizations, to have access to religious followers in Vietnam, including members of denominations not officially recognized by the government.

§ Invite the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance, the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture to visit Vietnam to investigate violations of religious freedom and other rights abuses committed against members of churches that are not officially sanctioned by the government.

For the full text of Human Rights Watch’s letter to Secretary Rice, see:

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/02/28/vietna10217.htm

For more information, please contact:

In London, Brad Adams: + 44-7960-844-996

In Washington D.C., Veena Siddharth: +202 612 4341

In New York, Minky Worden: +212 216 1250

In Brussels, Jean-Paul Marthoz (French):

+32-2-732-2009

Senior Aviation Official Commits Suicide To Escape Corruption Scam

Vietnam News Briefs

February 28, 2005

The former leader of Vietnam's Central Airports Authority, who is currently involved in a major corruption scandal, burned himself at his office in the central city of Danang on February 26, local media report.

Nguyen Lai, former general director of CAA, was taken to Hospital C in Danang at 4pm last Saturday. Doctors said he was seriously burned and in a critical condition. On the following day, Mr. Lai was brought by air to Hanoi for treatment at the Central Burn Institute.

"As I have just been informed, it is possible that Mr. Lai will survive," said Pham Van Thanh, vice general director of CAA.

Before Mr. Thanh was found burned at his office, he had a meeting with the authority's Party committee, Mr. Thanh said.

"Previously, we realized Mr. Lai had shown signs of depression and assigned staff to take care of and encourage him. But we were too busy... We don't know why there was petrol at his office," he said.

Nguyen Lai, his deputy Dong Huu Nghiem, and Do Ngoc Tuan, director of a CAA-owned company, were suspended from their positions early this month following accusations of misappropriating VND23.7 billion from the CAA budget for illegal land purchases.

Mr. Lai was also blamed for using the State budget to buy two modern BMW and Mercedes cars worth more than $ 125,000 for himself and his deputy after being appointed to be the General Director of the CAA two years ago.

Following the decision on the suspension, the transport ministry requested the three high-ranking officials to recover the misused money immediately and said it would consider appropriate punishments for these officials.

This is among the very first corruption cases detected in Vietnam since the beginning of this year, showing the determination of the Communist-ruled country to fight such an evil that has slowed down its development for a long time.

Negotiations On Literary Works Protected By Copyright Enhanced

Thai Press Reports

February 28, 2005

Section: Regional News - Vietnamese publishers and educational organisations have met foreign publishing house representatives to negotiate conditions for a licence to translate a number of literary works into Vietnamese.

These conditions were put forward at a seminar on "Translation and Reprinting of literary works protected by copyright" in HCM City on Feb. 24.

Participants discussed procedures for granting publishing licences and the current challenges in granting licences for the translation of US book titles.

The seminar aimed to enhance Vietnam's endeavours to abide by the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. –

Vietnam Has To Conclude Negotiation With U.S. In July

Thursday, February 24, 2005

By Cam Ha

On VN Express: and Tuoi Tre Online:

Virginia Foote – President of the U.S. – Vietnam Trade Council has shown her optimism on the prospect of the bilateral negotiation in June-July this year, which helps Vietnam to move forward to enter the WTO later this year.

As Mrs. Foote anticipates, the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference in December is an appropriate time for Vietnam to conclude negotiations. Vietnam can be joining WTO in few months later, or early 2006, when all the negotiation procedures finished. This also means that Vietnam needs to speed up its negotiations before December, including big countries as U.S., Japan, Canada, New Zealand, China…

The negotiation with the U.S. will likely be concluded in June – July, on occasion of the visit of Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai. U.S. is now considering the latest offer that Vietnam just submitted several weeks ago. Two sides have planned to meet again in March. “It would probably be more difficult if the negotiations are not finished before the Prime Minister’s trip”, as Mrs. Foote remarked.

According to Mrs. Foote, U.S.- Vietnam negotiation on Vietnam’s WTO accession is pretty different from Vietnam – EU one. It relates to some traditional issues that U.S. usually negotiates with other countries, such as tariff, services and implementation of WTO regulations. “I assume there are 30-40 countries negotiate with Vietnam on tariff with their very different requirements. It would be difficult to estimate how the requirement on tariff, nor comment on the variable different of Vietnam’s commitments with U.S., Australia or New Zealand”, Mrs. Foote said.

In order to conclude negotiation with Vietnam, U.S. Congress has to vote by this fall, on whether it will waive the amendment of Jackson – Vanik and grant Vietnam the PNTR. The vote does not only consider the aspect of U.S. - Vietnam trade relations but also consider other issues like MIA, human rights, religious freedom etc…

However, the charming President of the Trade Council is quite optimistic that Vietnam and the U.S. will conclude negotiation in 2005 as the last chapter of the normalization between the two countries. “There is no doubt that joining the WTO will help Vietnam overcoming many issues. Textile is an example. I estimate that Vietnam’s textile export to U.S. will be double when not applying quotas. The Prime Minister’s visit to U.S. will also be a great affect beside the Vietnam’s strong commitment”, she said.

Vietnam - Thich Huyen Quang Protests Repression Against the UBCV

International Buddhist Information Bureau

(Bureau International D'information Bouddhiste)

Official information service of Vien Hoa Dao, Unified Buddhist church of

Vietnam B.P. 63 - 94472 Boissy Saint Léger cedex (France) - Tel.: Paris

(331) 45 98 30 85 Fax : Paris (331) 45 98 32 61 - E-mail :

ubcv.ibib@buddhist.com Web : http://www.queme.net/

For immediate release

Paris, 23 February 2005

Buddhist Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang calls for freedom of movement for Thich Quang Do and the lifting of "verbal" house arrest orders

The Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang, 86, prominent dissident and Fourth Supreme Patriarch of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), has sent an "Open Letter" to the Vietnamese leadership denouncing recent harassments of UBCV monks, and condemning the unlawful detention of UBCV Deputy leader Venerable Thich Quang Do and himself under house arrest without charge. The "Open Letter", dated 21 February 2005, comes only days after the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Dzung (18.2.2005) declared that Thich Huyen Quang and Thich Quang Do were "leading their life and practicing religion in normalcy" in their respective Monasteries, and that the reports of harassment was "fabricated information of the so-called International Buddhist Information Bureau".

This "Open Letter", the first that Thich Huyen Quang has sent to the government since he was placed under house arrest in October 2003, was sent clandestinely from the Nguyen Thieu Monastery in Binh Dinh province (central Vietnam) via the International Buddhist Bureau in Paris. It is addressed to Communist Party Secretary Nong Duc Manh, President Tran Duc Luong, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An.

In his letter, Thich Huyen Quang recalled the expectations raised by his landmark meeting with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in Hanoi in April 2003. "Everyone truly hoped this was a sign that the Communist Party and the State had truly changed their policies of repression and discrimination against the UBCV. I shared these sentiments of joy and hope myself", he said.

However, just six months later, on October 9th 2003, the government launched a brutal crackdown, arresting 11 members of the newly appointed UBCV leadership, including Thich Quang Do and himself. "After that, my doubts turned to bitter disappointment. I saw clearly that the government was continuing the same, immutable policy of religious intolerance towards the UBCV and myself that it had pursued since the struggle for independence against the French, when they arrested me in the 5th Interzone. Today, in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, I am still under arrest and their policy remains unchanged".

Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang condemned the recent series of harassments against Venerable Thich Quang Do and other UBCV dignitaries, particularly the ban on them traveling to Binh Dinh to visit him in November 2004 when he was gravely ill, and most recently in February 2005, to offer their New Year greetings for the Lunar New Year (Tet). Security Police had systematically visited all UBCV Pagodas in Saigon to threaten monks against making the trip, he said. These harassments were particularly shocking at a time when "the Communist Party and State has authorized a delegation of several hundred Buddhists from an overseas sect to visit Vietnam with full freedoms of movement and speech. Yet they prevent Buddhist monks who live in Vietnam... from traveling and spreading Buddhist teachings".

Furthermore, Thich Huyen Quang pressed Vietnam to urgently clarify the legal situation of Thich Quang Do and himself. Accused of "possessing state sm ecrets" and placed under house arrest for "investigation" by verbal orders of the local authorities, both men have been detained for over 12 months, beyond the legal limit for investigation. If the government has evidence against them, Thich Huyen Quang said, it should put them on trial. "If we are proven guilty after an impartial hearing, then we shall accept whatever sentence the Court hands down. But if the government has no proof of our guilt, the State must immediately clear us of these spurious charges and restore our full freedoms and rights. We cannot continue living as prisoners in the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery and the Nguyen Thieu Monastery, detained under strict control and surveillance, as we have done for over a year"... (see full text below).

Unified Buddhist Church Of Vietnam

Institute of the Sangha

Buddhist Era 2548

VTT/TT

OPEN LETTER

on the banning of Buddhist monks from paying New Year's visits

and administrative detention by "verbal order"

To : Mr. Nong Duc Manh, Secretary-general of the Communist Party of Vietnam

Mr. Tran Duc Luong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Mr. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Mr. Nguyen Van An, President of the SRV National Assembly

Dear Sirs,

Almost two years have passed since I went to Hanoi for medical treatment and was received by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on 2nd April 2003. This landmark meeting brought great joy and hope to Buddhists at home and abroad, to governments and international friends worldwide. It brought great joy, because never before, in any county in the world, had a Prime Minister held talks with a religious prisoner. Indeed, I was a prisoner then, and I still am today. The meeting also brought hope, because after so many long, dark years living in expectation, everyone truly hoped this was a sign that the Communist Party and State had truly changed their policies of repression and discrimination against the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV). I shared these sentiments of joy and hope myself. I was especially moved by the Prime Minister's reply to my question on why the government had persistently repressed the UBCV for the past 30 years. He confided: "At first, we had many shortcomings and made many mistakes. But from now on, we will gradually put everything right. Most Venerable, please be compassionate and forgiving". When he said that, I let him understand that I was ready to forgive everything that had happened in the past.

However, just six months later, on 8-9 October, the events of Binh Dinh and Luong Son took place and I was intercepted and arrested by the Police along with several other UBCV leaders. After that, my doubts turned to bitter disappointment. I saw clearly that the government was continuing the same, immutable policy of religious intolerance towards the UBCV and myself that it had pursued since the struggle for independence against the French, when they arrested me in the 5th Inter-zone. Today, in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, I am still under arrest and their policy remains unchanged.

At the end of last year, I fell gravely ill. Venerable Thich Quang Do tried to come and visit me in hospital with a delegation of UBCV monks from Saigon, but Police intercepted them and forbade them from making the trip. Then came the Lunar New Year (Têt), which is a time of family reunion for all Vietnamese, a moment of happiness after a hard year's work, and an occasion for people to visit their relatives and friends. I was very grieved to learn that Venerables Thich Quang Do, Head of the UBCV's Executive Institute (Vien Hoa Dao), Thich Duc Chon, member of the UBCV Council of Sages, Thich Vien Dinh, Deputy Head of Vien Hoa Dao and other Buddhist monks were once again prevented from traveling to Nguyen Thieu Monastery in Binh Dinh province to pay me a New Year's visit. I hear that the local authorities and Police in Binh Thanh, Go Vap, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc districts etc. [Saigon] systematically called on all UBCV Pagodas to warn monks against traveling to Binh Dinh. They advanced vague pretexts such as: "the situation in the province is delicate and unstable", or totally absurd arguments like: "hostile elements are trying to take advantage of the situation to organize a delegation to visit the Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang in Binh Dinh. If anyone invites you to go, you must refuse because the State will not tolerate this visit". Venerable Thich Quang Do's telephone has been cut off since that date.

In Vietnam, the act of paying respects to one's elders and visiting family during the Têt is an ancient feature of our culture, and we should maintain this good tradition. I therefore solemnly call upon the Communist Party and the State to investigate this affair and find out exactly who banned Venerable Thich Quang Do and his delegation from traveling to Binh Dinh, and for what reason. If the ban was justified, the Party and State should explain the reason publicly to Vietnamese Buddhists at home and abroad, and to international opinion, in order to dispel people's concerns that the State was arbitrarily persecuting the UBCV and depriving its members of their right to freedom of movement and peaceful assembly, as guaranteed in the Vietnamese Constitution and United Nations' human rights treaties. On the contrary, if the ban was unjustified, then Party and State should immediately contact Venerable Thich Quang Do at the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery in Saigon and affirm that he and other UBCV dignitaries are fully free to travel and visit whosoever they wish. If you do this, you will be proving that the government's slogan "Living and working according to the Law" is not just an empty phrase, but a principle that applies to the daily lives of every Vietnamese citizen.

I find these restrictions particularly shocking since they come at a time when the Communist Party and State has authorized a delegation of several hundred Buddhists from an overseas sect to visit Vietnam with full freedoms of movement and speech. Yet they prevent Buddhist monks who live in Vietnam and adhere to the historic, traditional Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, from traveling and spreading Buddhist teachings.

Dear Sirs,

I also take this opportunity to demand the government's accountability on the situation of Venerable Thich Quang Do and myself. We were both placed under house arrest by "verbal orders" on 9th October 2003 after the events of Luong Son (Nhatrang), and we have been held under detention since then. I heard the government spokesman telling the international media that Venerable Thich Quang Do and I are accused of "possessing State secrets". If the government has proof of our guilt, it should produce evidence and put us both on trial, guaranteeing our access to defence lawyers and the due process of law. If we are proven guilty after a fair and impartial hearing, then we shall accept whatever sentence the Court hands down. If, on the contrary, the government has no proof of our guilt, then the State must immediately clear us of these spurious charges and restore our full freedoms and rights. We cannot continue living as prisoners in the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery and the Nguyen Thieu Monastery, detained under strict control and surveillance, as we have done for over a year.

The Vietnamese Criminal Procedures Code (Article 10) stipulates that "no person will be held guilty and punished until a judgment of guilty of a court has come into legal force". The Code also states (Article 71) that "detention whilst awaiting investigation" must not exceed a maximum period of 12 months. When this period has expired, "the detained person must be released". In our case, this period expired over four months ago. I sincerely hope, Sirs, that you will discharge your duties in accordance with the law and settle the points raised in this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Nguyen Thieu Monastery,

Binh Dinh Province, 21 February 2005

Fourth Supreme Patriarch

Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam

(signature and seal)

Bikkhu Thich Huyen Quang

VN’s WTO Bid On Right Track: U.S. Official

Feb 24, 2005 – VNS

President of the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council, Virginia B. Foote, said on Friday that she was upbeat about the prospect of Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) this December.

"In order for Vietnam to join the WTO at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong this December, there is quite a lot of work that needs to be done, however I am still optimistic," said Foote. The country's accession would be good for both the U.S. and Vietnamese businesses and relations, she added.

It will be a busy year for Vietnam, Foote said, emphasizing that the biggest problem is the scope and transparency of its legal system, regulations, processes, and standards.

As for the Vietnam-U.S. bilateral negotiation, Foote said, talks between the two countries have been on-going and that there will be another round or two this spring as well as others in Geneva. The Ministry of Trade said that the opening of service markets will be the hot issue in these talks.

Foote also remarked that there is promise for future bilateral trade and investment between the two countries if Vietnam can be a WTO member starting in January 2006.

"There are no miracles for trade and investment, but I think accession to the WTO will be a new important factor," Foote concluded. (VNS)

Vietnam Expects To Acquire Market Economy Status From EU

Vietnam News Briefs

February 22, 2005

Vietnam is hoping the European Union will recognize the country as a market economy as soon as possible, the Ministry of Trade said on February 21.

The Trade Ministry is working on a detailed report of market economy regulations for submission to the EU so that the EU will officially recognize Vietnam as a market economy in the near future, a trade ministry official said.

Vietnam had filed a request to the EU for market economy status three years ago, the official said. Last year, the trade ministry sent a preliminary report on the country's legal system and economic situation to the EU for consideration, based on five EU criteria, to determine if the Vietnamese economy was ran on market principles.

Recently, the EU Trade Commission sent a letter to Vietnam Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen, saying it had examined the report and required more detailed reports, the official said.

"The issue is expected to be discussed in an upcoming meeting of the EU-Vietnam Joint Commission," he added.

"There have been positive signs that Vietnam is able to meet the EU requirements."

If Vietnam gains market economy status from the EU, Vietnamese businesses will be able to enjoy favorable conditions in trade disputes, particularly anti-dumping lawsuits. In 2002, Vietnam had also asked the US to recognize the country as a market economy within the framework of the US catfish dumping petition, but it was not successful.

Vietnam Ranks World’s Fourth Largest Shrimp Exporter To U.S.

Vietnam News Briefs

February 21, 2005

Vietnam has become the world's fourth largest shrimp exporter to the US after Thailand, China and India even though its export shipments to the country were down in 2004, the Ministry of Fisheries quoted its foreign source US Customs Service as saying.

Last year, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the American market hit 36,400 tons, mainly frozen shrimp, down 36% from the previous year due to the serious affects of the US shrimp anti-dumping lawsuit, the ministry said.

Thailand still remained the largest exporter with 124,300 tons of shipped shrimp, followed by China with 65,200 tons and India with 40,700 tons. The total figure of shrimp exports to the US in 2004 reached 517,560 tons, up 2% from 2003.

Analysts predict that Vietnam's shrimp exports to the market will rebound to 2003's figures or even higher as the final anti-dumping tariffs on Vietnam's shrimp exports imposed by the US Department of Commerce (DoC) are lower than the preliminary ruling.

Last December, the DOC upheld the imposition of penalty taxes on shrimp imports from Vietnam, saying the country sold shrimp to the US at below-market prices. But, the DOC did lower the penalty tariffs to 4.13% to 25.76% from its July preliminary ruling, which levied tariffs at 12.11% to 93.13%.

New Archbishop Appointed in Hanoi

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=66622

Date: 2005-02-20

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 20, 2005 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II named Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet as the new archbishop of Hanoi, Vietnam, reported the Vatican press office.

The new archbishop is replacing Cardinal Paul Joseph Pham Dinh Tung, 85, now retired.

Archbishop Quang Kiet, 52, was ordained a priest in 1991, and was bishop of Lanson and Cao Bang since 1999. He had been also the apostolic administrator in Hanoi since 2003.

Of the 6 million inhabitants of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, 5.1% are Catholics.

The Holy See also announced the appointment of Bishop Francois Xavier Le Van Hong as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Hue.

About 6 million of Vietnam's 82 million inhabitants are Catholic. About 50 million are Buddhists.

Innovative Media, Inc.

For reprint permission, please contact: infoenglish@zenit.org .

Vietnam Affirms Sovereignty Over Hoang Sa And Truong Sa Archipelagoes

Thai Press Reports

February 18, 2005

Viet Nam has sufficient historical evidence and legal foundation to affirm its indisputable sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Le Dung reiterated in Ha Noi on Feb. 17.

Responding to a question posed by Viet Nam News Agency and Tuoi tre (Youth) newspaper correspondents regarding Viet Nam's reaction to a report that China has begun extensively researching the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, the spokesperson said Viet Nam's position on the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes has been clearly stated many times.

"Any act taken by another country against these two archipelagoes without Viet Nam's approval is a violation of Viet Nam's sovereignty and sovereign rights to these areas," he stressed.

Vietnam Needs Foreign Expertise For Law Reforms To Meet WTO’s Rules

Vietnam News Briefs

February 17, 2005

Vietnam will need to hire foreign experts to help modify laws and regulations if the country wants to join World Trade Organization in December this year, a senior government advisor said Wednesday.

Nguyen Xuan Thang, director of Vietnam's World Economic and Politic Institute, told the Vietnam Financial Times newspaper which is published by the Finance Ministry, that because investment is key to the country's economic growth, "It's a constant task for the authorities to improve the investment environment, and transparency in the country's legal framework is prerequisite," he said.

"Unlike other countries such as Laos, Cambodia or Mianma whose development is mainly depended on cheap labor, resources and land availability, Vietnam's growth is primely based on the investment drive, which only becomes effective if the country's investment policies are transparent," Thang said.

As time is soon running out because the country's leaders have insisted that Vietnam should join the WTO by December this year, "We must considering to hire foreign experts who can help speed up our legal reforms because we need to change up to 200 laws in the coming time," he noted.

Current law-making procedures are very cumbersome and the local authorities would need more than five years to be able to pass new laws which meet WTO's entry conditions, he added.

He called for substantial awareness from the authorities on the necessity to build a positive image for Vietnam, making it "the country of proactive integration."

He also warned that if the government of Vietnam continues maintaining their economic-social policies, the country's GDP growth will hardly meet the 8.5% target set by the lawmakers for this year.

"For example, our investment effectiveness remains low - we have to invest $ 5.6 to generate $ 1 of profit, while in other countries they often spend $ 3 for $ 1," Thang said.

Vietnam started negotiating with WTO members in 1995, but the country was only indicating a real interest for its future membership from 2003. It needs to complete negotiations with 21 countries - including China and the U.S - before June.

Vietnam PM Urges Recognition Of Protestants

Vietnam News Briefs

February 17, 2005

Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has asked relevant offices in the communist country to continue to recognize Protestant organizations that meet the conditions required by law.

In his first instruction issued in the year 2005, Khai asked relevant offices to initially recognize branches of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam that satisfy such conditions. He also told the authorities to create favorable conditions for these branches to build places of worship, and to train and appoint dignitaries.

As for Protestant organizations and denominations which do not meet the legal requirements and are still not recognized by the State, the PM said authorities should help them register their activities with local governments, so long as these activities are purely religious.

Currently there are two major Protestant organizations recognized in Vietnam - the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (in the North) and the General Confederation of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (in the South).

Also in his Instruction No.1/2005, PM Khai asked relevant authorities and organizations to help Protestants to boost socio-economic and cultural development and encourage them to contribute to the country's development and security.

Last year, the State recognized 36 Protestant branches in Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), according to Deputy Head of the government's Committee for Religious Affairs Nguyen Thanh Xuan.

Protestantism is one of the six religious sects officially recognized in Vietnam. It is estimated to have nearly one million followers. The other five religions are Buddhism, Catholicism, Caodaism, Hoa Hao, and Islam.

The communist administration in Vietnam repeatedly insists the presence and full protection of religious freedom in the country despite numerous criticisms from overseas.

Cultural Official Arrested For Assisting Illegal Departures

Vietnam News Briefs

February 17, 2005

A high-ranking official of a company owned by the Ministry of Culture and Information was arrested on February 15 in Hanoi following accusations of allegedly assisting Vietnamese to illegally take up residence in another country.

Tong Xuan Thu, 33, chief of the Central Fine Arts Company (CFAC)'s import-export department, was alleged to have helped citizens exit Vietnam illegally, according to police.

As a senior official of the company, Mr. Thu had recruited a number of employees and helped them flee to European countries, while saying they were on missions to organize fine arts exhibitions and tradeshows, police said.

The police also reportedly seized documents and papers related to the case with the signatures and seals of several CFAC officials.

Organizing exhibitions and tradeshows to promote Vietnam's cultures to the world was a sound strategy of the CFAC, confirmed a company leader. But Mr. Thu was the one who used these programs to facilitate the illegal aliens. He, therefore, must face justice, the leader said.

The official also said the company is conducting its own probe to clear whether the scandal was the result of mismanagement. Other company officials could be implicated in the case, he said.

The police is now conducting further investigation into the case.

Buddhist Monk Thich Thien Minh Speaks Out After 26 Years In Prison

INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST INFORMATION BUREAU

(BUREAU INTERNATIONAL D'INFORMATION BOUDDHISTE)

Official information service of Vien Hoa Dao, Unified Buddhist church of Vietnam B.P. 63 - 94472 Boissy Saint Léger cedex (France) - Tel.: Paris (331) 45 98 30 85 Fax : Paris (331) 45 98 32 61 - E-mail : ubcv.ibib@buddhist.com Web : http://www.queme.net/

For immediate release

Paris, 7 February 2005

"As long as there is no true freedom, democracy or human rights in Vietnam, the whole 80-million Vietnamese people, including myself, will be condemned to live like shadows..."

Buddhist monk Thich Thien Minh speaks out after 26 years in prison

Thich Thien Minh, secular name Huynh Van Ba, 51, was released in a government amnesty on 2, February 2005. A member of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), former Superior monk of Vinh Binh Pagoda in Bac Lieu, southern Vietnam, Thich Thien Minh was detained for 26 years for his support of the banned UBCV. He spent long terms in solitary confinement, chained by the hands and feet, because of his protests against the ill-treatment and poor detention conditions of his fellow inmates. Just after he arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, Thich Thien Minh spoke to the International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) by telephone before paying a brief visit to UBCV Deputy leader Thich Quang Do and taking the bus to Bac Lieu. This is the first time he has spoken out publicly in 26 years. IBIB is honoured to present extracts of the conversation with this exceptional man. The full text, which gives details of his life in the re-education camp, is on the IBIB / Quê Me website :

http://www.queme.net/eng/e-docs_detail.php?numb=316

On 6 February 2005, I.B.I.B. again spoke with Venerable Thich Thien Minh. He had arrived in Bac Lieu and just paid a visit to his brother. Since his arrest, the prison authorities had never informed Thich Thien Minh's family about his situation. His brother thought he had died in the camp, and set up an altar in his home, where he prayed for Thich Thien Minh every day. Thich Thien Minh said his brother had suffered continuous harassments and pressures from the Police and authorities for many years simply because of his links with the dissident monk.

*****

I.B.I.B. : Venerable Thich Thien Minh, what are your feelings on your first day of freedom ?

Thich Thien Minh: I have been in re-education camp for 26 years. More than a quarter of a century in detention, simply for supporting the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV). A quarter of a century is not much compared with the long history of the Vietnamese people and humankind. But a quarter of a century in the life of a human being is a terribly long time. Especially for a monk, who has a mission to devote his life to helping others...

I was told that I owe my release to the government's "so-called" policy of clemency. But for me, their "clemency" has come too late. I have suffered too much harsh treatment for too long. In my opinion, their amnesty of political prisoners was prompted by the pressures and insistence of the international community. Releasing political prisoners, prisoners of conscience and religious prisoners is a sensible and necessary act. But they did it as a defensive reaction, something they were forced to do, not something they genuinely wanted to do.

If they have set me free with the intention of placing me under house arrest, administrative detention or subjecting me to further unfair treatment or discrimination on my release, then it won't be true freedom It will be just like transferring me from one prison to another, to a different kind of prison, that's all.

I believe that, as long as there is no true freedom, democracy or human rights in Vietnam, the whole 80-million Vietnamese people, including myself, will be condemned to live like shadows, crushed by fear, doubt, disillusion and beset by a thousand hardships and cares. These are my thoughts on my first day of freedom.

I.B.I.B.: How many political prisoners are there in Z30A reeducation camp today ?

Thich Thien Minh: There are still a number of political prisoners, and some religious prisoners too. For example, there is Father Pham Minh Tri -he has suffered from dementia for the past 10 years, but they still keep him in the camp - and Father Nguyen Duc Vinh of the Congregation of the Mother Co-redemptrix. Both these Catholic priests have been detained for 18 years, yet they have still not been released. There is also an old man belonging to a branch of the Hoa Hao Sect (Buu son Ky huong). His name is Ngo Quang Vinh. He is 87 years old, and walks with a stick. He is terribly weak and in very poor health, yet they keep him locked in the camp. There are so many elderly political prisoners in Z30A camp, 70-80 year-old men who came into the camp as strong, healthy youths with heads of shining black hair. Now their hair has turned white, their bodies are bent, yet they are still detained. Even if they are released one day, they will be just like walking skeletons, good for nothing, just an extra burden for their families.

I.B.I.B.: Did you have to accept any conditions in order to benefit from this amnesty ?

Thich Thien Minh: During the working session with the officials from the Ministry of Public Security, I insisted that they give me back the pagoda they confiscated [in 1976]. They told me to calm down, not to make demands too hastily, to let the Vietnamese government address my problems step by step. These sounded like empty promises to me, they smacked of insincerity... Some of the Public Security officials told me I must confine myself to practicing Buddhism after my release and promise not criticize or oppose the government as I did before.

I gave them my honest opinion, plain and clear. I said: "Uncle Ho once declared, wherever there is oppression and injustice, struggle will inevitably follow. Surely, then, the real question that the Vietnamese government should be asking themselves is not why the people are opposing or criticizing them, but whether they themselves have provoked opposition by being oppressive and unjust? That is my point of view.

I.B.I.B.: Is there anything you would like to add ?

Thich Thien Minh: Whilst I was in the camp, I heard from some of my prison colleagues who were arrested after me that the international community had launched appeals for the release of all political prisoners, prisoners of conscience and religious prisoners in Vietnam. Amongst these people is Mr. Vo Van Ai. I want to thank him, and ask him to convey my warmest thanks to the U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom, the U.S. government and Congress, the European Union and Parliament, the United Nations, especially Mr. Amor, international human rights organisations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International (their HQ in London and their section in Spain), as well as the radio stations, media and caring people all over the world. I thank all those who have worked selflessly and without rest to obtain the release of prisoners of conscience in Vietnam, prisoners who are detained simply beca