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dom for the citizens of the Socialist Republic of

Vietnam; and

(B) the United States fully expects equal protection under law with all Vietnamese citizens, regardless of religious belief, political philosophy, or socio-political association;

(2) urges the Government of the Socialist Re

public of Vietnam—

(A) to implement provisions called for under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 relating to conditions in Vietnam;

(B) to release all religious, political prisoners, and prisoners of conscience, and immediately ceases the harassment, detention, physical abuse, and imprisonment of Vietnamese citizens who have exercised their legitimate

rights to freedom of belief, expression, and association;

(C) to abolish article 4 of the Vietnamese Constitution and repeal any and all regulations, codes, and decrees prohibiting citizens rights to free expression, freedom of association, freedom of the press, and religious worship; and

(D) to formally commit to a framework and a set timetable for open and fair elections

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that will facilitate the ability of Vietnamese citi

zens to peacefully choose their own local and

national leaders, free from fear and intimidation; and

(3) commends the Vietnamese-American community for initiating an international memorial to American and South Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom during the Vietnam War, which is under development and will be located in Westminster, California.

•HCON 295 IH

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H.L.C.

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

TO H. CON. RES. 295

OFFERED BY MR. ROHRABACHER

Amend the preamble to read as follows:

Whereas 25 years after the Vietnam War ended, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a one-party state ruled and controlled by the Vietnamese Communist Party;

Whereas the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam continues to violate the liberties and civil rights of its own citizens through arbitrary arrests, detentions without trial, and the censorship of peaceful expressions of political and religious beliefs;

Whereas the Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999 notes that the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam "continued to repress basic political and some religious freedoms and to commit numerous abuses";

Whereas the Socialist Republic of Vietnam still retains Article 4 in its Constitution that ensures the supremacy of the Vietnamese Communist Party as the only political party in the country while continuing to enforce an extralegal administrative decree to detain or place under house arrest any dissidents or civilians for up to two years, without trial, under the pretext of "endangering national security";

Whereas the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is one of the most politically repressive and poorest countries in the world, with an average per capita income of $330;

April 12, 2000 (11:04 AM)

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H.L.C.

Whereas, according to the Department of State and international human rights organizations, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam continues to restrict unregistered religious activities and persecutes citizens on the basis of their religious affiliation through arbitrary arrests and detention, harassment, physical abuse, censorship, and the denial of the rights of free association and religious worship;

Whereas the Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999 on Vietnam estimates that "there are from 30 to 50 religious prisoners" but "the number is difficult to verify with any precision because of the secrecy surrounding the arrest, detention, and release process";

Whereas the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam continues to prevent human rights organizations from unfettered and open investigations of allegations of statesponsored oppression of the right to worship by its citizens, and has prevented the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance, Abdelfattah Amor, from meeting with various religious leaders during his visit to Vietnam in October 1998;

Whereas the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam systematically violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in contravention of its status as a member of the United Nations;

Whereas the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam systematically violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in contravention of its status as a signatory to that agreement;

April 12, 2000 (11:04 AM)
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H.L.C.

Whereas April 30, 2000, marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of Saigon to Communist forces of North Vietnam; and

Whereas it is in the interest of the United States to promote political, religious, and economic freedom throughout the world: Now, therefore, be it

lows:

Amend the text after the resolving clause to read as fol

1 That the Congress

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(1) requests the President to restate and make clear to the leadership of the Government of the So

cialist Republic of Vietnam

(A) the firm commitment of the American people to political, religious, and economic freedom for the citizens of the Socialist Republic of

Vietnam; and

(B) the United States fully expects equal protection under law with all Vietnamese citizens, regardless of religious belief, political philosophy, or socio-political association;

(2) urges the Government of the Socialist Re

public of Vietnam

(A) to cease violations of religious freedom as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998;

April 12, 2000 (11:04 AM)

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