Vietnam protests U.S. 'interference' in human rights
HANOI - Vietnam has objected to U.S. interference in its internal affairs over Pham Hong Son and other "political prisoners" and "prisoners of conscience."
Asked by reporters about a resolution recently approved by the U.S. House of Representatives requesting Hanoi to release Pham Hong Son and "political prisoners or prisoners of conscience," Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung said relations between Hanoi and Washington are relations between two countries with sovereignty, Viet Nam News reported Tuesday.
"We are ready to hold straightforward, open dialogues about issues that the U.S. Congress is interested in to strengthen understanding and lessen differences," the spokesman said.
He said Vietnam had asserted many times it has no "prisoners of conscience," and that no one was being kept in prison because of political opinions or religious reasons.
The spokesman said Pham Hong Son was involved in activities that violated the law and he had been judged in accordance with the law. Because Pham had not yet met standards and conditions to receive amnesty, he had not yet been granted a special amnesty, he said.
The United Press International - April 12, 2006.
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