OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
ON THE OCCASION OF THE VISIT OF THE
SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM PRIME MINISTER NGUYEN TAN DUNG
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC
June 24th, 2008
Dear President Bush:
The Vietnamese government currently encounters major problems that they are incapable of resolving, including multiple economic and social issues...
These problems include an inflation rate of 25%, rampant corruption that expands the widening gap between the rich and the poor, human trafficking, conceding land to China, a failed education system, and most of all the lack of basic human rights and civil liberties. There is deep resentment and distrust of the Hanoi regime by the Vietnamese people because of ineffective governance and their inability to support the people’s daily needs. Across the country, there is pressure building up demanding for a major change in the current political system. Upon the occasion of this visit, we believe that you, Mr. President, should encourage Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to take this golden opportunity to reform his government. There are specific issues that we would like to be raised during your discussion with Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung:
1. Immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, and stop all harassment of former prisoners.
2. Immediate restoration of the basic human rights and civil liberties of the Vietnamese people, including freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of information and press, freedom of association, and freedom of movement.
3. Abolition of Article No. 4 of the Vietnamese Constitution which gives the Vietnamese Communist Party supremacy over the population.
4. To accept a multi-party system and to set a specific time table for free and fair elections under the supervision of the United Nations.
5. To return property rights to the people, especially farmers.
6. To allow collective bargaining for workers as a first step to the formation of independent labor unions to meet the International Labor Organization’s standards; and to be enforced by U.S. companies in Vietnam to certify that they meet the criteria under the U.S. labor’s laws.
7. The Vietnamese government must take steps toward correcting critical human trafficking and labor trafficking crimes.
8. To reform the legal system and to repeal specific criminal codes including Article Numbers 73 and 88. To fight corruption by improving accounting transparency and conforming to international legal accountability.
9. To renovate the education system with specific programs and assistance from the U.S. government and private sector.
10. To guarantee equal protection under the law to all Vietnamese, regardless of religious belief, political philosophy, or previous associations. To stop all the discrimination of the former veterans of the Republic of Vietnam, to improve their daily living necessities, and to allow the Vietnamese overseas to assist them and to rebuild the Veterans Cemetery Bien Hoa, as a historical heritage site.
Dear Mr. President, this is the right time for Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung to undertake the courageous task to embrace change, to open up the political system, and to go down in history as a reformer.
Respectfully yours,
Signatories
1/ The Non Violent Movement For Human Rights in Vietnam ( Representative: Nguyen Dan Que, M.D., Saigon, Vietnam).
2/ The Rallying For Democracy ( Nguyen Dan Que, M.D , President, Saigon, Vietnam).
3/ Bloc 8406- Supporters of Manifesto of Freedom& Democracy For Vietnam ( Representatives: Mr. Do Nam Hai, Sagon, Vietnam; Father Phan Van Loi, Hue, Vietnam; Mr. Tran Anh Kim, Thai Binh, Vietnam; Mr. Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Hai Phong, Vietnam; Prof. Nguyen Chinh Ket, currently on mission in USA).
4/ Alliance For Democracy and Human Rights For Vietnam ( Representatives: Mr. Do Nam Hai; Mr. Tran Anh Kim; Prof. Nguyen Chinh Ket).
5/ Vietnamese Political and Religious Prisoners Friendship Association ( Founded by The Venerable Thich Thien Minh. Representative: Mr. Pham Tran Anh, Executive Director of the oversea Chapter, California).
6/ The Group of Arbishop Nguyen Kim Dien ( Representatives: Father Chan Tin; Father Nguyen Huu Giai; Father Phan Van Loi).
7/ Nguyen Thanh Giang, Ph. D., Vietnam Human rights Activist, Hanoi, Vietnam.
8/ The International Committee To Support The Non Violent Movement For Human Rights in Vietnam
( Representative: Nguyen The Binh, M.D. , Mc Lean, USA).
9/ Vietnam Human Rights Network ( Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trang, President, San Diego, California).
10/ Vietnamese Community of Washington DC, MD and VA ( Mr. Ly Van Phuoc, President, Maryland).
11/ Vietnamese Americans Community in The USA ( Representative: Truong Ngoc Tich, M.D, Dallas Texas).
12/ Coalition of Vietnamese Veterans Association ( Mr. Doan Huu Dinh, President, VA).
13/ Vietnam National Party/ Coordinating Council ( Mr. Tran Tu Thanh, Chairman, VA).
14/ Vietnam Populist Party ( Mr. Nguyen Cong Bang, Secretary General, Houston, Texas).
15/ Viet Tan Party ( Representative: Mr. Hoang Tu Duy, Washington, D.C.)
16/ International Institute For Vietnam ( Mr. Doan Viet Hoat, Ph.D, Chairman, Annandale, VA).
17/ Vietnamese Writers Abroad PEN Centre ( Mr. Son Tung, President).
18/ National Institute of Administration Alumni Association , East Coast ( Mr. Nguyen Kim Huong Hoa. President).
19/ Vietnam Exodus Foundation ( Representative: Mr. Tuong Thang, California).
20/ Vietnamese Senior Citizens in the Washington Metropolitan Area Association ( Mr. Nguyen Dinh Ky,
President, VA).
21/ King Hung oversea Foundation ( Mr. Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Esq, Chairman).
22/ Vietnamese American Voters Association ( Mrs. Jackie Bong Wright, President, VA).
23/ Free Vietnam Committee, Southwest USA Chapter ( Mr. Pham Huu Phu, Chairman, Ca).
24/ The Vietnam history Study Network “ Lichsuviet.com” ( Representative: Trinh Quoc Thien, Esq).
25/ Vietnamese Veterans Association of Ontario, Canada (Mr. Nguyen Van Tan, President, Toronto, Canada).
26/ Vietnamese Human Rights Association in Toronto ( Mr. Duong Van Anh, President, Toronto, Canada)
27/ Committee For The Release Of Political Prisoners in Vietnam ( Tu Uyen , M.D., Montreal, Canada).
28/ Vietnamese Community in Montreal, Canada ( Tran Dinh Thang, M.D., President).
29/ Alliance For Democracy in Vietnam ( Representative: Mr. Le Minh Tuan, Toronto, Canada).
30/ Committee to Support The Movement For Democracy in Vietnam ( Representative: Mr. Tran Minh Thanh, Canada).
31/ Vietnam Reform Party, Toronto Chapter ( Representative: Mr. Nguyen Huy Tam, Toronto, Canada).
32/ The Elderly Vietnamese Association of Mississauga, Canada ( Representative: Mr. Tran San, Canada).
33/ The Lao New Generation Democracy Movement LGD (Representative Dr. Richard V. Saisomorn).
34/ Internet Radio: Rallying For Democracy ( Representative: Quan Nguyen, M.D., Falls Church, VA).
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