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(D) strongly urges the Government of Vietnam to consider the implications of its actions for the broader relationship between the United States and Vietnam; and

(2) it is the sense of the House of Representa

tives that the United States should

(A) make a top concern the immediate release, legal status, and humanitarian needs of

Father Nguyen Van Ly, Nguyen Van Dai, and
Le Thi Cong Nhan;

(B) use funds from the newly created Human Rights Defenders Fund of the Department of State to assist with the legal defense and the needs of the families and dependents of

Father Ly, Nguyen Van Dai, and Le Thi Cong
Nhan;

(C) continue to urge the Government of Vietnam to comply with internationally recognized standards for basic freedoms and human rights;

(D) make clear to the Government of Vietnam that it must adhere to the rule of law and

respect the freedom of religion and expression

in order to broaden its relations with the

United States;

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(E) make clear to the Government of Vietnam that the detention of Father Ly, Nguyen

Van Dai, Le Thi Cong Nhan, and other polit

ical prisoners and prisoners of conscience and

other human rights violations are not in the in

terest of Vietnam because they create obstacles to improved bilateral relations and cooperation with the United States;

(F) if there is widespread harassment, short-term detentions, long-term house detentions, and arrests of religious leaders and religious-motivated rights defenders and activists, re-impose on Vietnam the country of particular concern (CPC) designation, which was removed on November, 13, 2006, for severe and ongoing violations of the freedoms of thought, conscience, religion, and belief in Vietnam;

(G) make clear to the Government of Viet

nam that the norms and responsibilities of joining the international community are not fully realized in Vietnam's WTO membership, and that the issues of the freedoms of speech, assembly, association, and the right of due proc

ess are essential for a healthy trade and busi

ness climate; and

•HRES 243 IH

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(H) in order to advance these freedoms

and rights, and to strengthen the long-term re

lationship between the United States and Viet

nam, initiate new foreign assistance programs

to advance the capacity and networking abilities of Vietnamese civil society, including new rule of law programs to train Vietnamese human rights lawyers, judges, academics, and students about international human rights law; new public diplomacy initiatives to inform and teach Vietnamese citizens about international human rights norms and responsibilities, and projects that support organizations and associations

that promote the freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and association.

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

TO H. RES. 243

OFFERED BY ME. Smith

Strike the preamble and insert the following:

Whereas, on February 18, 2007, Vietnamese police raided the parish house of Father Nguyen Van Ly and confiscated computers, telephones, more than 100 mobile phone cards, and more than 200 kilograms of documents;

Whereas the police moved Father Ly to the remote location of Ben Cui in central Vietnam, where he is under house arrest;

Whereas Father Ly is a former prisoner of conscience, having spent a total of over 13 years in prison since 1983 for his advocacy of religious freedom and democracy in Viet

nam;

Whereas Father Ly is an advisor of "Block 8406", a democracy movement that started in April 2006 when hundreds of people throughout Vietnam signed public petitions calling for democracy and human rights;

Whereas Father Ly is also an advisor of a new political party, the Vietnam Progression Party, and one of the primary editors of "Freedom of Speech" magazine;

Whereas, on March 6, 2007, Vietnamese police arrested one of Vietnam's few practicing human rights lawyers, Nguyen Van Dai, who has defended individuals arrested for their human rights and religious activities, is the cofounder of the Committee for Human Rights in Vietnam,

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H.L.C.

and is one of the principal organizers of the Block 8406

democracy movement;

Whereas, on March 6, 2007, Vietnamese police also arrested Le Thi Cong Nhan, a human rights lawyer, a member of "Block 8406", the principal spokesperson for the Progression Party, and a founder of the Vietnamese Labor Movement;

Whereas Father Ly, Nguyen Van Dai, and Le Thi Cong Nhan have been charged with disseminating propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under article 88 of the Penal Code;

Whereas Father Ly was tried and convicted on March 30, 2007 and sentenced to 8 years in prison;

Whereas if convicted, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong each could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison;

Whereas Le Quoc Quan is a lawyer who traveled to the United States in September 2006 to research civil society development as a Reagan-Fascell Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy;

Whereas Le Quoc Quan returned to Vietnam in early March 2007 and was arrested by Hanoi police on March 8, 2007;

Whereas Le Quoc Quan has been charged under Article 79 of the Penal Code which prohibits activities aimed at overthrowing the Government and carries extremely severe prison terms and even the death penalty;

Whereas in none of their activities have Father Ly, Nguyen Van Dai, Le Thi Cong Nhan, or Le Quoc Quan advocated or engaged in violence;