Vietnam calls US human rights report 'wrongful'
A Foreign Ministry Spokesperson has harshly criticised the US Department of State's 2005 Human Rights Report as "wrongful".
Ministry spokesman Le Dung made the criticism at a press briefing in Hanoi yesterday, in his replies to questions about Vietnam's reaction to the report which labels Vietnam's Human rights record as "unsatisfactory".
He said the 2005 Human Rights Report made many erroneous and prejudiced comments on human rights in Vietnam. It cited unilateral and distorted information that failed to reflect the reality in Vietnam.
"We therefore absolutely reject those wrongful comments," said Dung.
He said the Government had made great efforts during the past years to advance civil rights, an achievement that has been highly appreciated inside and outside the country.
"The Vietnamese people are increasingly participating in the governance of society and voicing their will and aspiration in matters related to major events of the country," said Dung.
"This is illustrated by the fact that Vietnamese people from all walks of life throughout the country and in other countries are contributing their comments to the draft reports to be delivered at the 10th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, an important socio-political event for the nation."
Dung emphasised that Vietnam respects and protects citizens' right to follow any belief and religion. He cited the promulgation of numerous legal regulations and the growth in religious activities across the nation.
"No one is detained for having different political views or for religious reasons. Only violators of laws are dealt with in accordance with legal regulations," Dung said.
However, Dung said the differences in a country's political system, level of development, history and culture in contrast to other nations, such as between Vietnam and the US, resulted in different views and approaches towards human rights.
"It is unacceptable for one country to impose its view and approach on other countries," Dung said.
He recalled Vietnam and the US's high-level agreements to "develop constructive partnership, friendship and multi-faceted co-operation of equality, mutual respect and benefit" and "continue frank and open dialogues on matters of mutual concern."
As a result, Vietnam and the US have resumed dialogues on human rights between their two foreign ministries, Dung said.
"We hope that through contacts and dialogues, the two sides will obtain greater understanding and bridge the gap in religious and human rights issues, contributing to the promotion of relations in line with the two people's interests."
Work disputes
At the press briefing, Dung also addressed other issues, including recent disputes between workers and managers at several Japanese companies in Vietnam.
Dung was asked to confirm whether President Tran Duc Luong, at his meeting with Keidanren President Hiroshi Okuda, had apologised for the series of recent disputes at the Japanese companies.
Spokesman Dung said that based on information provided by a Keidanren official, reports by some foreign news agencies quoting President Luong's apology on March 1 were totally untrue.
At the meeting, President Luong had said the Vietnamese Party, State and Government always paid attention and listen to opinions raised by the people and businesses, including foreign businesses, so as to improve policies on economic development and raise living standards for all in Vietnam.
Regarding recent matters at some enterprises, President Luong confirmed that "recent strikes are mainly caused by unsatisfactory solutions to issues relating to workers' interests" and that "these issues will be resolved satisfactorily given the tripartite co-operation, between the Government, enterprises and the workers".
Vietnam News Agency - March 10, 2006.
Vietnam rejects U.S. human rights report
Vietnam absolutely rejects erroneous and prejudiced comments on its human rights record in the 2005 Human Rights Report of the U.S. Department of State, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday.
The report cites "unilateral and distorted information that failed to reflect the reality in Vietnam," said spokesman Le Dung at a regular press briefing.
Vietnam respects and protects citizens' right to freedom of belief and religion, and the right to freedom of non-belief and non-religion, and the Vietnamese people are participating in society governance and voicing their will and aspiration in the country's major events more and more actively, Dung said.
"Vietnamese people from all walks of life throughout the country and in other countries are contributing their comments to draft reports of the 10th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, an important social-political event," Dung stated.
Vietnam has issued numerous legal regulations to facilitate belief and religion activities, and there is no religious repression or ethnic discrimination in the country, he said.
"No one is detained for having different political views or for religious reasons. Only violators of laws are dealt with in accordance with legal regulations," he said.
As a result of difference in political systems, development levels, history and culture, there exist different views and approach toward human rights among countries, including Vietnam and the United States, "it is unacceptable for one country to impose its view and approach on other countries," he said.
As agreed by the leaders of Vietnam and the United States on " developing constructive partnership, friendship and multi-faceted cooperation of equality, mutual respect and benefit" and " continuing frank and open dialogue on matters of mutual concern," the two countries have resumed dialogue on human rights between the two foreign ministries.
"We hope that through contacts and dialogues, the two sides will obtain greater understanding and bridge the gap in religious and human rights issues, contributing to promotion of relations in line with the two peoples' interest," the spokesman said.
Xinhua - March 9, 2006.
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