Socialist Republic of Vietnam

VETERANS FOR PEACE, INC.

NATIONAL OFFICE
216 S. Meramec Avenue St. Louis, MO 63105
Phone (314) 725-6005; Fax (314) 725-7103
vfp@igc.org
www.veteransforpeace.org

October 1, 2004

Dear Senator,

I am writing you on behalf of Veterans For Peace to urge you to oppose and vote against passage of the Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2004 (S 2784).

Veterans For Peace is a national organization of U.S. military veterans. Many of our members served in foreign conflicts including a significant number who fought in the Vietnam War.

At our national convention in July of this year, our members overwhelmingly passed a resolution that stated:

Veterans For Peace calls on the U.S. Congress to reject the
so-called “Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2004” or any other
legislation that is contrary to the friendly and normal relations
between our two countries.

This resolution highlights our strong belief that it is “imperative to nurture a relationship based on mutual trust and respect of national sovereignty and to create fair trade practices that enhance the economic well-being of both countries”.

As veterans who know the real costs of war, we believe that our interests are best served by promoting constructive dialogue rather than punitive sanctions in our relations with Vietnam.

The Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2004 threatens to undermine the tremendous progress that has been made in normalizing relations between the United States and Vietnam.

Rather than healing the wounds of war, an objective that many veterans feel deeply, this bill would hinder the ability of the Vietnamese people to develop their country and undermine efforts for reconciliation and friendship between the American and Vietnamese people.

We strongly urge you to work against its passage in the Senate and thank you for your consideration of this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

David Cline
President

RESOLUTION ON VIETNAM
(By Veterans for Peace – 7/2004)

WHEREAS the United States government failed to fulfill commitments made in the Paris Peace Agreement to provide economic aid for post-war reconstruction and to heal the wounds of the Vietnam conflict, and

WHEREAS the US government pursued a hostile post-war policy aimed at isolating Vietnam that includes a punitive trade embargo which lasted until 1994, and

WHEREAS the US government has been reluctant to admit responsibility and has failed to provide humanitarian assistance for the serious health, economic and environmental devastation caused by the chemical defoliant Agent Orange/dioxin that continues through the present day, and

WHEREAS many of our members are Vietnam veterans who strongly feel it is our duty is to aid the Vietnamese people in their efforts to rebuild and to provide humanitarian assistance, and

WHEREAS it is imperative to nurture a relationship built on mutual trust and respect of national sovereignty, and to create fair trade practices that enhance the economic well-being of both countries,

BE IT RESOLVED that Veterans For Peace calls on the US Congress to reject the so-called "Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2004" (HR-1587) or any other legislation that is contrary to friendly and normal relations between our two countries,

AND BE IT RESOLVED that we endorse the creation of a Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility fund that advocates for and assists the Vietnamese victims of these toxic chemicals,

AND BE IT RESOLVED that we confirm our desire to develop a formal relationship with the Veterans Association of Viet Nam, in the belief that it is in our best interest to pursue a policy of peace, reconciliation and friendship and for the U.S. government to fulfill its responsibility to the Vietnamese
people.

Approved at the 2004 Veterans For Peace Convention in Boston, MA on  7/24/04