The Honorable Thomas
A. Daschle
U.S. Majority
Leader
509 Hart Senate Office
Building
Washington, DC
20510-4103
Dear Senator
Daschle:
One
million Vietnamese-Americans are outraged by the September 11
terrorist attacks, which killed more than 5000 innocent fellow
Americans. We wish to express our deep sorrow over this
tragedy.
We
pledge our full support in the fight against terrorism and in
defense of America values, our democratic system, and our way of
life. Our communities across the nation are actively taking part in
blood drives, prayers and fundraising events to help relieve the
immediate needs of the victims.
To
Vietnamese-Americans, this tragedy reminds us of the events in Hue,
Vietnam in 1968. The North Vietnam Communists killed more than 5,000
innocent Vietnamese civilians and foreign civilians including women
and children. Many were mercilessly buried
alive.
On
this occasion, we raise our concern about the present human rights
abuses systematically practiced by the Vietnamese Communist
government. Priests of all faiths are being intimidated, beaten,
arrested or imprisoned just because they do not belong to state-run
religious organizations. Democratic activists are detained and
arrested. Also, Montagnards in the Central Highlands are being
suppressed because they demand religious freedom and return of land
confiscated by the government.
Amnesty
International has adopted several religious leaders as prisoners of
conscience: The Most Venerable Thich Quang Do, a Buddhist priest,
was imprisoned for more than 10 years and released in 1998, has been
under house arrest since June 1, 2001. Rev. Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly,
a Catholic priest has been detained since May 17, 2001 without
trial...
The
House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the H.R. 2833
(Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2001) on September 6, 2001 with a 410/1
vote.
On
behalf of 15 nation-wide Vietnamese-American organizations, I
respectfully urge you and all members of the Senate to join the
House in supporting the Vietnam Human Rights Act, which promotes
freedom and democracy for Vietnam.
Respectfully
Yours,
Rev. Nguyen Huu
Le
14701
Crenshaw Dr., Centreville, VA 20120,
U.S.A
1-888-999-1305. Fax:
1-866-324-8375
On behalf of: International Committee for Religious
Freedom in Vietnam; International Committee for Freedom to Support
the Non-Violent Movement for Human Rights in Vietnam; Liberty
Christian Reform Church; Montagnard Assoc. of America-International;
Movement of the Vietnamese
Laity in the Diaspora; National Congress of Vietnamese in America;
Overseas Cao Dai Church; Overseas Hoa Hao Buddhist Association;
Third Amnesty of God / Holy See of Tay Ninh; Viet Democratic Movements for Charter
2000; Vietnam Human Rights Network;
Vietnamese-American Community in America; Vietnamese Buddhist Youth
Congregation of Foreign Countries; Vietnamese Pharmacists
Association in the USA; Vietnamese Physicians Association in the
USA.
