On May 29, a delegation of four members of the Vietnamese-American community met in the White House with President George W. Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney, Chief of Staff Joshua Bolton, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow and other senior officials. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss current human rights abuses in Vietnam and to find ways for the United States government to support freedom and democracy in Vietnam.

During the 45 minutes meeting, the President asked the four Vietnamese American experts a number of questions. They recommended that the President make a public statement in support of human rights in Vietnam. The delegation also recommended that President Bush send a letter to the President of Vietnam calling for the release of all political prisoners and encouraging the Vietnamese government to set a time table for free and fair elections. They also asked for the Administration to return Vietnam to the list of Countries of Particular Concern due to oppression of religious freedom and to postpone or cancel the planned coming trip of Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet until the Vietnamese government makes concrete improvement in human rights.Below is the statement of Dr. Quan Nguyen, one of the four members of the delegation and brother of the prominent dissident Nguyen Dan Que in Vietnam. For further information please call Binh The Nguyen at 240-731-3630.

President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, center, meet with, from left, Thanh Cong Do, founding member of the People's Democratic Party of Vietnam; Nguyen Le Minh, chairman of the Vietnam Human Rights Network; the vice president; the president; Diem Do, chairman of the Vietnam Reform Party; and Dr. Quan Nguyen, chairman of the International Committee for Freedom to Support the Non-Violent Movement for Human Rights in Vietnam, meet to discuss Vietnamese democracy and human rights, Tuesday, May 29, 2007, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.Brief Statement of Dr. Quan Nguyen on the occasion of meeting with President Bush on May 29th, 2007 at The White House.

Mr. President:

I am honored to be here today and I am grateful to have this opportunity to express some of my concerns regarding the current human rights situation in Vietnam.
In your second inaugural address, you said that “ anyone who lives in tyranny and hopelessness should know: The United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for liberty, we will stand with you.” Democracy activists like my brother – Dr. Nguyen Dan Que – quote your words often. And all freedom-loving people in Vietnam take inspiration from them.

My brother is a good example of the thirst for freedom inside Vietnam. As a medical doctor, he could have left his country and made a comfortable life for himself abroad. But he decided to stay behind and help his countrymen. He was imprisoned three times for a total 20 years. In prison, he was tortured, beaten, and repeatedly placed in solitary confinement – all for the crime of promoting democracy. Yet after all this, Dr. Que still says that democracy is the destiny of the Vietnamese people – and cannot be forever suppressed. Today there are now many more freedom activists who are following in the footsteps of Dr. Que. For example Lawyers Nguyen Van Dai, Le Thi Cong Nhan, Le Quoc Quan, Tran Quoc Hien, Drs. Le Nguyen Sang, Pham Hong Son, Novelist Tran Khai thanh Thuy…Most of them are young, well-educated and they are determined to continue the non violent struggles to build a democratic society in Vietnam.

In spite of all the repression by the Vietnamese communist party, in 2006 the pro democracy movement made great strides forward, such as founding the Block 8406, the Democratic Party, the Progressive Party, the Committee For Human Rights, the Independent Labor Union, the Peasants and Workers Solidarity Association; the Ex-Political and Religious Prisoners Association, the Land Plaintiffs; and by online publication of newspapers Liberty of Expression, Liberal Democracy. And above all, by a larger numbers of people rallying under the name of the Human Rights and Democracy Alliance for Vietnam. Over the last six months, the government has been cracking down on human rights activists all across the country, especially the cyber dissidents. We believe that freedom of information and freedom of expression are vital for democratization of Vietnam. All these activists look to the United States for help and inspiration.

While trade and economic development are bringing tremendous changes in Vietnamese society, the government in Hanoi is not equipped to handle this change – because it is not accountable to the people and it does not believe in freedom. We believe that it is the right time for a new political system and a new wave of progressive leaders in Vietnam. The United States should encourage this social revolution for dignity, freedom and democracy of Vietnamese people.

As Americans, we should make it clear to Hanoi that we believe in human rights – and that the Vietnamese authorities cannot expect us to continue to be friendly them when they silence men like Father Ly at his own trial – or use their security forces to prevent the wives of Vietnamese human rights dissidents from entering our ambassador’s house for a tea party. This last act occurred right in front of Ambassador Marine and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. The Communist officials do these things because they believe the world will look the other way.

Mr. President, I have asked many dissidents inside Vietnam the same question: What is the best thing that the United States could do to help? They always give me the same answer – a strong statement from The President of The United States openly supporting human rights and democracy in Vietnam. They believe that a statement from you insisting that political freedoms and rights are essential to the progress of our bilateral relationship can bring a better life to the people in Vietnam, not only economically but also mentally and spiritually. And they know that a letter from you to the President of Vietnam seeking the release of all non-violent political prisoners and encouraging Vietnam to have a clear time table for free and fair elections will boost the morale of all Vietnamese who are struggling to claim their freedom.

Mr. President, Vietnamese-Americans are grateful for your leadership, and for your strong support for freedom and human rights. And I thank you for taking the time to see us today.

Respectfully yours,
Quan Nguyen, MD.
Chairman, International Committee To Support The Non Violent Movement
For Human Rights In Vietnam.