~ Le Vięt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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U.S. lawmakers endorse bill critical of Vietnam's human rights record

WASHINGTON: A House of Representatives panel on Tuesday endorsed a bill that would prohibit boosts in U.S. aid to Vietnam until political prisoners are released and the country takes other measures to fix what critics call a dismal human rights record.

The bill, endorsed by the Foreign Affairs Committee, also authorizes $4 million (€2.92 million) over two years for human rights groups in Vietnam and $10 million (€7.3 million) over two years to fund U.S. efforts to end Vietnam's jamming of Radio Free Asia. It also requires the State Department to report annually on Vietnam's progress. It was unclear when the full House would consider the bill. Republican Rep. Christopher Smith, the bill's chief sponsor, said that the "legislation puts the Vietnamese government on notice that the path of human rights abuses at least carries some penalties."

During the June visit to the U.S. of Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet, angry U.S. lawmakers pressed Vietnam to stop increasing repression of political activists and religious leaders. Vietnam tolerates no challenges to communist one-party rule; it insists, however, that only lawbreakers are jailed. In recent months, Vietnam has arrested or sentenced pro-democracy activists, including a dissident Roman Catholic priest who was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The Associated Press - July 31, 2007.