To the Honorable Chair:

The Nobel Peace Prize, more than any other national or international symbol, upholds the virtues of peace, promotes social justice, and honors those brave enough to risk life, limb, and liberty in their pursuit.  Two Vietnamese religious leaders, Venerable Thich Quang Do and Father Nguyen Van Ly embody those principles.  Like the Reverend Desmond Tutu of South Africa, and His Holiness the Dalai Llama of Tibet, these two spiritual leaders exemplify the best of the human spirit in their quests for one of the most basic of human rights, freedom of worship.

In his native Vietnam, the Venerable Thich Quang Do has been imprisoned, placed under house arrest, exiled, and jailed again simply for advocating fundamental human rights.  For decades the Venerable Thich Quang Do, the secretary-general of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, has protested government infringements upon religious practice and interference with the church.  The Dalai Llama described his efforts as "the legitimate expressions of the fundamental right to freedom of religion."  A repeated prisoner of conscience, the Venerable Thich Quang Do has called for compassion and tolerance in the face of authoritarian repression.

"Human civilization," the Venerable Thich Quang Do has declared, "would not allow a government of any ideology or political system to intentionally exempt itself from universal values and erect an iron curtain to keep a section of humankind in the shadow of history behind the vague concept of the fabricated excuse of 'internal affairs.'" As it has recognized struggles in Burma, Guatemala, and South Africa, the international community must also acknowledge this campaign for human rights and dignities in Vietnam.

Similarly since 1977, Father Nguyen Van Ly has been repeatedly arrested, isolated, and jailed for advocating religious freedom.  In May of last year, Father Ly was placed under house arrest and banned from running his church for providing testimony to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. On October 19, 2001, in a two hour trial without the presence of a defense lawyer or independent witnesses,  the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam sentenced Reverend Ly to 15 years in prison on charges that he undermined the country's unity and violated a detention order by providing testimony.

As Father Ly maintains, "During the reign of a dictatorial and totalitarian power over the entire people of a country, religions are the main - sometimes the only - place to shelter and support those souls in desperate needs of freedom and justice. At the minimum, people should be able to find [in these religions] the support for the spirit of defiance [to injustice]. This spirit exists naturally in all people of culture and conscience."

For decades the Venerable Thich Quang Do and Father Ly have followed the path of peaceful protest in the face of repression, like many other past recipients of this honor.  In recognition of their courage, their convictions, and their sacrifices, we, the undersigned, respectfully submit the names of the Venerable Thich Quang Do and Father Nguyen Van Ly as nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize.  Thank you for your consideration.