September 3, 1998

In early September, Vietnamese authorities released a number of political and religious prisoners, including Professor Doan Viet Hoat, Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, Ven. Thich Quang Do, Ven. Thich Tue Si, Ven. Thich Tri Sieu, Mr. Ly Tong, Mr. Tran Manh Quynh, and others. These gentlemen have been listed as political and religious prisoners by Vietnamese and international human rights organizations for years.

This retreat of the Vietnamese authorities in their policy of political oppression illustrates the effectiveness of the effort by Vietnamese and the international community for human rights in Vietnam. However, many clergies, religious lay people, artists, journalists, and other intellectuals continue to languish in the prison camps system across this land. The Free Vietnam Alliance calls on all Vietnamese and international human rights organizations, governments of free countries, and members of the international media to ever increase pressure on Hanoi until it releases all political and religious prisoners, ends its policy of political oppression, and respects its citizens' fundamental rights and freedom.

Furthermore, even though the Vietnamese authorities released a number of political and religious prisoners, they continue to keep these parolees and many other individuals holding different political viewpoints under surveillance and severe restriction imposed by local officials. These prisoners can also be re-arrested and imprisoned at any time without trial as stipulated in the government's Directive 31/CP on "Administrative Detainment". The Free Vietnam Alliance, therefore, also calls on all individuals, organizations, and governments to demand Hanoi terminate the policy of holding anyone with different political views under house arrest, revoke Directive 31/CP and other orders that legalize arbitrary arrests and detainment of citizens by the Public Securities.

All forms of political oppression, religious oppression, and oppression of free thought across the country of Vietnam will truly end only when a democracy is established on this land. The Free Vietnam Alliance, therefore, will continue tirelessly its effort, along with other Vietnamese and international friends, to democratize and develop Vietnam.