Amnesty report on rights abuses full of lies: Govt
HA NOI (May 29, 2003) — Amnesty International’s allegations about human rights abuses in Viet Nam were based on inaccurate information, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh said on Thursday.
Therefore they were totally rejected, she said in reply to a question from an Agence France Press reporter.
Thanh accused Amnesty International of inventing the allegations published in its annual report and said the organisation dared not print information about the real situation in Viet Nam.
She affirmed that about 20 million Vietnamese – almost one third of the population – are religious believers. They belong to a variety of religious denominations and sects with thousands of clergy.
Thanh said all religious activity among the minority people of the Tay Nguyen, Central Highlands, is taking place normally. This includes activity by Protestants.
The Evangelical Church of Viet Nam had held its congress in 2001 and established affiliations in more than 30 southern provinces, including the Central Highlands.
This reality itself spoke against charged of "renewed repression" of religious freedom in Viet Nam, she said.
Thanh dismissed allegations that Viet Nam had restricted foreign observers from the Tay Nguyen.
Diplomatic delegations, international guests and experts surveying for some socio-economic development projects had often travelled there, she said. The most recent visit, made between May 14 and 17, was of a delegation of correspondents from eight major foreign news agencies, radio and newspapers. The visitors have made contact with many people and had first hand information identifying the falsity of the allegation that "the administration oppressed" the local people.
The Government has time and again confirmed that people had not been arrested or detained for their opinions or religious views but for their violation of the law.
These accused had admitted their offences. As for capital punishment, Viet Nam was not the only country in the world who imposed the death sentence.
But Viet Nam’s 1999 Criminal Code had reduced the number of crimes subject to the death penalty. The reduction demonstrated humanitarian policy of the Vietnamese State and people.
The use of capital punishment, however, was still needed for criminals who committed dangerous acts against society and were beyond rehabilitation.
The spokeswoman said that Viet Nam would not close its doors to the world and would not hesitate to discuss human rights.
But dialogue could yield positive results only if it was conducted on the basis of respect and understanding with goodwill and free of prejudice. — VNS
