FM Spokeswoman rejects article in The Asian Wall Street Journal
On March 12, 2001 FM Spokeswoman answered question from
Reuters correspondent: Please provide comments on the article "Hanoi sabotages a deal" in The Asian Wall Street Journal on 9 March 2001, referring the case of Nguyen Van Ly and saying that "Vietnamese government crackdowns on religion only increase the chances of the legislature being voted down"?
Answer:
The article by The Asian Wall Street Journal is a sheer fabrication.
We have stated many times that there is no such thing as Vietnamese State crackdowns or prevents religious activities. Vietnam's law stipulates citizens' rights and the State protects everyone's right to adhere to religion or not to adhere to religion. Certainly, any abuses of religions or beliefs to carry out illegal activities, disrupting social order, impairing the national independence, sabotaging the great national unity will be dealt with according to the law.
Nguyen Van Ly has repeatedly carried out actions that violated Vietnam's law. His actions were uncovered by the religion followers and criticized by the Church. Many Vietnamese people including a large number of religion believers have shown their outcry about and criticized his actions which go against interests of the country and the entire people of Vietnam.
We hold that the Vietnam -US Trade Agreement would by no way be affected by actions taken by persons who willfully attempt to undermine relations between Vietnam and the US, as the agreement is resulted from the efforts by both sides and meets interests of the two countries.
