Socialist Republic of Vietnam

SENATOR BROWNBACK:

Having lived and worked in Vietnam for nine years as representative of two American veterans organizations -- first the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, and now the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, both supporting humanitarian relief projects here (although I am now commenting as an American citizen and a U.S. veteran, not on behalf of either organization) -- I can say that I have never witnessed any effort on the part of the government or any institution to suppress the constitutional right of the Vietnamese people to practice the religion of their choice. And the right to not practice religion is also enshrined in their constitution, to protect those who might otherwise feel pressured by society or institutions to take part in organized religion.

I have read many of the reports coming out of the U.S. alleging cases where the Vietnamese government has interfered with or suppressed the actions of certain individuals who said they were acting on behalf of the church or some other religious group. The number of such cases is quite small, given Vietnam's population of 80 million (probably no more than two dozen that I have seen reported), and the actions of some of those charged or tried and, in some cases, sentenced, are questionable when reviewed objectively in the context of Vietnam's troubled history of war and major destruction, and in the context of the Vietnamese people's clear determination to maintain a long period of peace and stability based on mutual respect and the social and cultural traditions of harmony and disapproval of activities of individuals which do not benefit the larger community and the national interest. That is clear from hundreds of discussions and conversations I have had with Vietnamese citizens, who are often quite critical of the government or the party or other authority. But when asked what alternative they seek, inevitably they reply that they're not looking for major change, they simply want to see continued progress, opportunity, and stability, and they say, "We just need to do better" but the country should continue in the same direction.

You are familiar with the Pew Foundation global survey conducted last year under the chairmanship of Madelaine Albright, which found that of all countries in the world, Vietnam ranked number one in the level of satisfaction among the population with the direction in which the country is headed.

As I told you at the American Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Hanoi, I have a staff member who is Catholic and whose family has been Catholic since his grandmother converted under the French in 1919. When I asked him if his family had ever felt any scrutiny or pressure from the government regarding their active participation in the church, he was surprised and said flatly that such a thing had never happened, and he was unaware of anyone else who had experienced such. I have been told the same thing by many others -- Buddhists, Cao Dai, Cham -- and I do not know of any foreign NGOs working in Vietnam, many religious based, who have experienced or witnessed any harrassment from the Vietnamese government as long as they were engaged in humanitarian activities and not proselytizing on behalf of their faith.

One only needs to drive around the country, north, south, central, to see huge numbers of churches and pagodas, big and small, under renovation or construction or built within the last 10 years or so, open to millions of Vietnamese actively practicing the religion of their choice.

Most of the stories which are reported in the U.S. of various questionable incidents in Vietnam alleging interference with religion, which receive wide attention in America, I cannot verify or deny. (Some I do know are untrue or exaggerated and manipulated, however.) But I have learned that much information about Vietnam coming from the U.S. is deliberately inflammatory and often inaccurate.

Vietnam is not perfect, and the government certainly makes mistakes. Sometimes even with enlightened and progressive policies in place at the national level, it is possible or even likely that at the local officials do not always adhere to the letter and the spirit of the law. (I'm from Georgia, and I remember well in years past local sheriffs scoffing at some law or court ruling and insisting, "I don't care what the governor in Atlanta says -- this is my territory!" It is quite possible that some local officials or law enforcement officers in Vietnam are not always in total compliance with law, regulations, or accepted social custom either.)

However, in general almost all Americans and other foreigners living here would give Vietnam very high marks for remarkable progress in religious freedoms, human rights, and democratic participation of citizens in decisions at every level, especially in the last decade or so of impressive economic growth and political stability. The situation will continue to improve as long as we foreigners maintain a constructive and open dialogue with the Vietnamese, rightly applauding their dramatic steps toward reform and openness, and pointing out areas in which they can still improve -- but in a way that is not judgemental or threatening. The Vietnamese are among the most polite and considerate people in the world, but they are also proud and they resent arrogance and intrusiveness on the part of outsiders. That is not surprising, considering the major traumas they lived through under centuries of outside domination and war.

I'm sure on your recent visit here the Vietnamese made it clear that you and other members of Congress, and ordinary American citizens, are always welcome here and they will help any visit to be enjoyable and instructive. But you can't accomplish that in a few days. And neither can authors of reports critical of the Vietnamese who rely only on information they obtain outside of the country.

I'm sure every American citizen living and working in Vietnam would also be happy to help in any way that would be useful, particularly in introducing you and others to the people of Vietnam -- which may be a slightly different prism that what can be viewed only through meetings with government officials.

The improving relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam should continue and grow and, based on mutual trust and respect, we can accomplish much toward improving virtually every aspect of people's lives in Vietnam, including religious freedoms and human rights, even if defined only through the standards which we in the U.S. expect and sometimes attempt to impose on others.

If there is any way I can be of help in learning more, providing more information, and building better understanding between our two countries, I stand ready to do so.

Sincerely,

CHARLES M. (CHUCK) SEARCY
U.S. Army 1966-1969
519th Military Intelligence Battalion, Saigon, June 1967-1968

CHUCK SEARCY, Vietnam Representative
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) / Vietnam Enterprise Group (VEG)
25 Truong Han Sieu / Hanoi, Vietnam
844 943 8061 tel / 844 943 8062 fax / 849 03 420 769 mobile chucksearcy@yahoo.com