Free Vietnam Alliance
Belgian Committee for Democracy in Vietnam

PRESS RELEASE
December 04, 1998

While humankind are commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, daily violations of people's fundamental rights by the government continue to take place in Vietnam.

- Despite Hanoi's claim of having released more than 8,000 prisoners in recent months, it has refused, to this day, to let anyone verify the actual number of those released. At the same time, many prisoners of conscience are confirmed to remain behind bars or under house arrests. Furthermore, under the authorization of Directive 31/CP, the regime's Public Security cadres continue to impose strict isolation on many Vietnamese citizens that bear different political viewpoints from the Vietnamese Communist Party.

- Despite the guarantees of freedom of thought, freedom of expression, freedom of the press in the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in reality, these fundamental rights are being forbidden or severely restricted by the government itself. Many Vietnamese, including a number of former members of the Vietnamese Communist Party, called on the leaders to abide by their own Constitution. The authorities have refused to heed the callings and responded with punishment, harassment, and detainment of these voices.

- Despite the constant proclamation of the Vietnamese authorities of their respect for people's freedom of religion, their cadres continue to restrict all religious activities and undermine all religious organizations in Vietnam. To cover up those policies, Hanoi used various tactics to prevent the United Nations Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance from meeting with Vietnamese religious leaders being imprisoned, exiled, or held under house arrest by the authorities during his trip to Vietnam in October, 1998.

Given that grave human rights condition in Vietnam and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Free Vietnam Alliance and the Belgian Committee for Democracy in Vietnam are organizing:

The event includes presentations and exchanges of viewpoints and experiences among various organizations and activists on the topic of human rights in Vietnam. Among the speakers are:

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Bich, Director of Radio Free Asia / Vietnamese Section, will present the "Human Rights Situation in Vietnam for the last 50 Years".

Mr. Tran Manh Quynh, a former political prisoner in Vietnam, released on September 01, 1998, will report on the treatment of political prisoners by the Vietnamese communist regime.

Mr. Bui Xuan Quang, Professor of Laws from Paris X - Nanterre University, France, will discuss the topic "Are Human Rights a Universal Concept?"

Bishop John Hepworth, President of the Australia - Vietnam Committee for Human Rights, will discuss "The Right to Intervene in case of Human Rights Violation".

Mr. Michel Pelchat, French Senator, President of the French Committee for Democracy in Vietnam, will present "Freedom of Speech: Engine of Democracy".

Mr. Philippe Monfils, Member of the European Parliament, will discuss the "International Contribution to Solving Problems in Vietnam"

and other contributors from France, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries.

On this occasion, the International Council for Democracy in Vietnam will present its goals, objectives, and organization.

This International Day for Human Rights in Vietnam is sponsored by Mr. Philippe Monfils, Member of the European Parliament; and the discussion will be moderated by Mr. Thierry Oppikofer, a journalist and President of the Switzerland - Vietnam Committee.