Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Andrew Wells-Dang, Washington-based representative of the US Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FRD), has strongly criticised slanderous accusations by Michael Benge, Florida Republican Representative, Mrs Ileana Ros-Lebtinen and exiled Vietnamese in France about the human rights situation in Vietnam.

"More than 25 years after the Vietnam War ended... some people are still trying to fight the war by other means," said Andrew in his article published by the Washington Times on Sunday (March 10) edition.

In his article, Mr Wells-Dang described as an obvious fabrication all that was written by Michael Benge to a January 13 Commentary Forum of the Washington Times and all that was raised by Ileana Ros-Lebtinen at a February 13 hearing of the US Congress. According to Mr Wells-Dang these people have grossly misrepresented Vietnam's policy of religious freedom.

"Vietnam expressed both official and private sympathy to the United States after the September 11 attacks," Mr Wells-Dang wrote to the Washington Times.

"The vast majority of Vietnamese, who practise a religion do not experience anything that could be labeled as 'persecution'. In fact, religious practice of all kinds - from Buddhism to Christianity - is undergoing an unprecedented revival in Vietnam," said Mr Wells-Dang.

He added, "Any visitor to Vietnam will find that temples and churches are crowded. The legal status of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam in the South was recognised after a successful general conference last February. And a delegation from the Vatican in June 2001 made progress towards better ties with Vietnam as well."

"The recent Vietnamese decision to allow a delegation from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom to visit is a sign of progress," he stressed. (VNA)