Grp Asks US To Raise Religious Freedom Issue With Vietnam

HANOI (AP)--An international human rights group Tuesday urged the U.S. to spell out clearly what Vietnam needs to do to improve religious rights as a deadline approaches for the Bush administration to decide whether to keep Hanoi on its worst-offender list.

New York-based Human Rights Watch urged U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to "send a strong message" that Washington won't tolerate Vietnamese violations of religious freedom.

"Despite a few well-timed goodwill gestures, such as the recent release of several religious prisoners, Vietnam has in all other respects continued its exceptionally repressive policies," Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

A U.S. Embassy spokesman said Tuesday that "dialogue continues" on human rights between the U.S. and Vietnam.

"The U.S. should make sure that any pledges made during these consultations are backed up by prompt action on the part of Vietnamese authorities," Adams said.

Vietnam was placed on the U.S. worst-offender list for religious rights last year - a category called "countries of particular concern" that carries the possibility of sanctions, which could range from private rebuke to economic restrictions.

Ambassador John Hanford, the State Department's top official for religious freedom, is scheduled to arrive in Hanoi Wednesday for several days of talks.

Washington has until March 15 to decide whether to remove Vietnam from the category of "countries of particular concern." If Vietnam isn't taken off the list, economic sanctions could be imposed.

Human Rights Watch said Washington should urge Hanoi to release all political and religious prisoners, allow religious organizations to govern themselves, and permit outside observers into the country.

Hanoi has taken a series of steps in recent months apparently aimed at reversing its status, including releasing dissidents and relaxing restrictions on public worship.

Last month, Vietnam released two of its most high-profile dissidents - Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly and Dr. Nguyen Dan Que - as part of a large-scale prisoner release for the Lunar New Year. Four other religious and political dissidents were also freed.

The government also announced last month that it would allow Protestant "house churches" to operate in the Central Highlands, where they had previously been banned, as long as they sever ties with an exile group that Hanoi links to a separatist movement.

Vietnam's treatment of the largely Protestant ethnic minorities in the region drew sharp criticism from the U.S. as well as the European Union following a crackdown last Easter during mass demonstrations by thousands of minority peoples protesting religious restrictions and land confiscation.

Vietnam was accused of trying to force the ethnic minorities to recant their faith, and of continuing to detain leaders of banned religious groups such as the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam. Repression involving Roman Catholics, Mennonites and followers of local religions Hoa Hao and Cao Dai has also been documented.

-Edited by Sharon Vong

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