Help Support H.R.2140 & Stop Persecution in Vietnam

nguyen van dai constant contack
A few weeks ago, we informed you of the arrest and detainment of Nguyen Van Dai.

Latest reports have indicated that Dai’s wife and attorney still have not received any news on his condition nor whereabouts.

On May 10th, 2016, Dai’s wife, Mrs. Vu Minh Khanh, traveled to Washington D.C. from Vietnam to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations. In her testimony, she informed the committee about Dai’s experience with Vietnamese authorities, including being a victim of torture and put in an incommunicado state in prison.

Mrs. Khanh also informed the subcommittee of how Dai’s arrest has put mental stress on her. Vietnamese authorities have placed a camera outside her house that records her every move, and forbids her from visiting her husband.

The Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations held another hearing on Vietnam on June 22nd. During the hearing, Chairman Smith advocated for Vietnam to be re-designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). Previously, Vietnam had been designated as a CPC from 2004 until 2006. During the hearing, Chairman Smith remarked, “[USCIRF] has made a very strong and consistent appeal to the IRF office to put Vietnam on that CPC category. It had been taken off prematurely during an economic agreement in the false hope that there would be deliverables that never happened.”

Jubilee supports Chairman Smith’s proposed legislation H.R. 2140 Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2015. The bill proposes that Vietnam should not receive non-humanitarian assistance from the United States if human rights and religious freedom does not improve. It also suggests that Congress re-designate Vietnam as a CPC. Since its introduction, the bill has passed in the House four times, but continues to fail once it reaches the Senate. Please contact your local Representative and state Senator and vocalize your support of the bill!

Jubilee also continues to mail postcards of encouragement to Dai’s wife, Mrs. Khanh. If you would like to send her a postcard, please email jubilee@jubileecampaign.org and we will mail you postcards to send her.