VN Army Newspaper editorial on US hearing on religious freedom
Ha Noi, Feb. 15 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's army newspaper Quan Doi Nhan Dan today, Feb. 15, exposes the ill intention of a U.S. hearing on religious rights on Tuesday, describing it as a "rude intervention" in Viet Nam's internal affairs.
"The hearing, held by the U.S. Commission on international Religious Freedom at the U.S. Congress on Feb. 13, is an ill-intentioned move to grossly interfere in Viet Nam's internal affairs", the newspaper stresses.
It says: "Again, public opinions have been misled by allegations repeated by forces hostile to Viet Nam as part of their efforts to bar a full normalization between Viet Nam and the United States".
"The allegations about Viet Nam's religious freedom made at a time when the two countries' legislative bodies are preparing to ratify their bilateral trade agreement signed last year are nothing but a move to achieve that goal", the newspaper adds.
"By making remarks on the religious situation in other countries, including Viet Nam, the United States has violated the fundamental laws and practices in international relations".
"This is extremely dangerous as it takes place at a time when many forces are abusing the religious issue to fan up the flames of religious and ethnic conflicts and encourage separatist movements, thus destabilising the situation in other countries", the newspaper emphasizes.
"As a country of different religions, Viet Nam always respects the the people's right to religious freedom. It is clear that every Vietnamese citizen, whether he or she is a religious believer or not, is equal before the law and protected by Viet Nam's Constitution and other legal documents".
"There is no religious discrimination, repression or arrest of any religious believer in Viet Nam", the newspaper reaffirms.
"Viet Nam's government and people wish to develop friendly and cooperative relations with the United States. But, Viet Nam strongly condemns the slanderous allegations by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom about Viet Nam's religious freedom and flatly rejects its illegal move".--VNA
