WASHINGTON, D.C.― The House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed legislation that prohibits increasing non-humanitarian assistance to the government of
The full House and Senate still must approve the measure for it to take law. A previous bill, the so-called Viet Nam Human Right Act, was approved by the House but died in the Senate.
Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), a longtime critic of
“Sadly, Ha Noi continues its war on religious freedom and human rights… just as it has been doing for decades,” he said. “However, Vietnamese officials today have brought their harassment of religious leaders, political dissidents and student activists to new, draconian levels.”
Royce, who authored legislation that expanded Radio Free Asia’s (RFA) broadcasts in this critical region of the world, praised the legislation’s provisions designed to bolster RFA’s impact on
“With this legislation, Radio Free Asia will now be better able to bring objective news – the truth – to the Vietnamese people. The spread of democratic values in Asia is critical to
“It is important to note that
Royce, who was condemned by the Communist government in Ha Noi when he secretly met with Thich Quang Do and Le Quang Liem, also spoke of the encouragement that the Viet Nam Human Rights Act will give dissidents inside Viet Nam:
“The Viet Nam Human Rights Act is an inspiration to the brave dissidents inside