Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, Apr. 7 (VNA) - Congressman Chris Smith (Rep.) of New Jersey, Ed Royce (Rep.) and Zoe Lofgren (Dem.), both of California last Thursday held a press briefing to announce their submission of the so-called "2003 Viet Nam Human Rights Bill" to the US House of Representatives for approval. The Vietnamese government has said the document's release will run counter to the development in friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and the US, as the document distorts the human rights situation in Viet Nam.

At the press briefing, the group of US congresspeople accused Viet Nam of applying a policy of harassment, discrimination, intimidation and imprisonment of those who express views opposing the government and those who practise religious activities peacefully. They set a target of promoting democracy and human rights in Viet Nam.

The authors of the so-called "Viet Nam Human Rights Bill", formulated articles barring all non-humanitarian aid to Viet Nam while calling for aid to those individuals and organisations involved in activities promotion freedom, democracy and human rights in Viet Nam and to the Radio Free Asia (Vietnamese language) broadcasts to Viet Nam.

The bill suggests the US Government invite "dissidents" students, scholars and cultural activists to take part in exchange programmes between the two countries. It also suggests the US grant resettlement to "refugees".

Why are these congressmen so concerned for the so-called "human rights" of some law-violators? Why have they deliberately ignored the rapid and sustainable progress that Viet Nam has achieved in the areas of socio-economic, cultural and human development. What sorts of human rights do these congressmen want in Viet Nam?

The Vietnamese government is aware that human rights are the results of humankind's struggle for thousands of years and are the responsibility of every nation. Human rights are nobody's initiative, and therefore, no body can own or grant human rights. Human rights have their roots in people's dignity and are always closely linked to certain economic, social and cultural conditions. Of all human rights, to live in independence and freedom is the most important. Therefore, the so-called "struggle for democracy and human rights" that has caused political instability in Viet Nam is in fact a scheme to grossly interfere into the internal affairs of other countries.

In the past, imperialist forces conducted aggressive wars in Viet Nam under the pretence of "freedom" and "equality". They committed savage crimes, killing millions of innocent people and injuring millions of others. Today, these hostile forces are again scheming to use the pretext of "democracy" and "human rights" to carry out peace evolution in a country once destroyed by foreign invaders' boms.

Behind the shameless distortion of Viet Nam's situation and the unreasonable requirements presented by this group of members of the US House of Representatives are dangerous schemes to cultivate reactionary ideas and foster reactionary forces in the country while causing pressure from outside to create a "velvet revolution".

In the recent past, hostile forces have taken various measures to foster a number dissidents and political opportunists and use them for activities of slander to hinder the process of national construction and international economic integration of the Vietnamese people. They have tried to arouse narrow-minded nationalism, coaxed a number of people in the Central Highlands to illegally leaving the country and called for the establishment of the so-called "De Ga independent State" with the aim of causing unrest in Viet Nam.

Obviously, that human rights cannot be regarded as superior to sovereignty; human rights cannot override the law. A proper limit to human rights is a basic principle of the international human rights law. During the disorderly incidents in the Central Highlands in early 2001, a number of individuals acted outside the limits of these international standards.

In Viet Nam, the citizens' basic rights, including the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to demonstrate, freedom of belief and religion are ensured by the Constitution and observed in reality. In Viet Nam, there are neither "political inmates" nor "religious prisoners" but only violators of the law. The Viet Nam Constitution clearly states that Vietnamese citizens are entitled to participate in State and social management and this has been fully observed all the time. The political regime in Viet Nam and the Vietnamese Government are the manifestations of the Vietnamese people's desire.

Following the US State Department's release of its annual report on the human rights situation around the world in 2002, which blatantly distorts the human rights situation in Viet Nam, the attempts by C.Smith and his colleagues to table an absurd bill contrary to international law are a brazen interference in Viet Nam's internal affairs. Viet Nam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement resolutely protesting and rejecting the bill while calling on US congressmen, for the long-term benefits of the two countries' peoples, not to let the bill be considered in the U.S. Congress.