Thank you, Dr. and Mrs. Nguyen, for inviting us to your lovely home, for your gracious hospitality, and for this touching tribute.

It is an honor I share with the entire Committee on Human Rights and I am accompanied tonight by members of the Committee from each of the three academies.

Also here are the members of the CHR's dedicated staff: Carol Corillon, Patty Evers; Susan Peacock; and Rachel Taylor.

I chaired the CHR for 10 years, from 1994-2004, and Dr. Nguyen Dan Que was an important case throughout that time. In fact, the CHR took up Dr. Que's case back in 1986, toward the end of his first 10-year prison term and has continued to keep him in the forefront of its work during his three terms of imprisonment and the many additional years spent under virtual house arrest.

We will continue our efforts until all of Dr. Que's rights are fully restored, including his ability to communicate with the outside world, to enjoy freedom of movement, and to resume his humanitarian work as a medical doctor.

The CHR is working privately on a case of another health

professional in Vietnam who is under severe house arrest and I understand that Dr. Nguyen is about to refer to the CHR for investigation the case of yet a third health professional who is suffering repression.

As most everyone here tonight knows, thirty years ago Dr. Que worked with the poor, urging better health care and access to vital medicines made available only to government officials and wealthy individuals. His criticism of these government practices within the health care system landed him in jail for 10 years—the first of his three imprisonments. During his last prison term Dr. Que was pressured to agree to leave Vietnam in exchange for his freedom. He was chained to the floor of his cell for several months, but still he would not agree to leave his country.

Dr. Que's manifesto, made public in 1990, advocated empowering the people economically and culturally, and enabling the productive citizens to be in charge of the economy, rather than the government or capitalists. There is no doubt that his continued effort to promote true democracy and human rights and equality keep him under continued surveillance, but he perseveres.

I cannot fail to mention the tragedy that is surely in the minds of each of us here tonight—the brutal repression of peaceful demonstrations, led by monks, in Burma.

In recent days the demonstrators in Burma have been calling for these same rights from the military junta--liberalization and equitable social and economic rights for all citizens. I have had the privilege of reading Dr. Nguyen 's eloquent and supportive letter to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. He expressed the sentiments we are all surely feeling about this tragedy.

Dr. Nguyen, you mentioned that I received the National Medal of Science from President Bush several months ago, which was a great honor for me. I would like to add that, at the award ceremony, I gave the President a letter expressing my deep concern about his administration's policy of not giving full recognition of the Geneva Convention and not promptly resolving the situation at Guantanamo Bay. I said, that I hope he will use the power of his office to restore the image of the United States as the beacon of freedom and human rights in this troubled world. After all, we must remember that there are human rights abuses occurring here at home as well.

Together, we must continue our efforts, in Vietnam, in Burma, in the United States, and wherever else they are needed.

In ending, I would like to say that, in reading Dr. Que's writings, I have often wondered how, after struggling against government policies for over 30 years--and having spent more than 18 of those years in prison because of his views—he has managed to retain his courage, determination, optimism, and balance. But, I think I now have a clue—it runs in the family.

Dr. Nguyen has worked tirelessly to gain his brother's freedom and make his vision for the future of Vietnam a reality. This also takes incredible determination and stamina; it also takes enormous brotherly love and dedication to family.

So, I would like you to join me in applauding Dr. Nguyen.