Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, April 14 -- "The adoption of a resolution on human rights in Vietnam by the External Relations Committee of the US House of Representatives is a gross interference in Vietnam's internal affairs which deliberately distorts reality and goes against the process of improving relations between the two countries." Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh was answering a foreign correspondent's question on the matter on April 13. Her statement is as following:

"The adoption of a resolution on human rights in Vietnam by the External Relations Committee of the US House of Representatives is a gross interference in Vietnam's internal affairs which deliberately distorts reality and goes against the process of improving relations between the two countries. It goes against morality for a country, which committed the most horrific violations of the human rights of the Vietnamese people to set itself up as judge and lecturer on human rights in Vietnam.

One of the most fundamental rights of people is to live in peace, independence and freedom. The Vietnamese people have experienced an extremely hard struggle against foreign aggressors and suffered great losses and sacrifices to win those fundamental rights. Therefore, fighting for human rights is both the goal and in the practical interest of the Vietnamese nation. More than anyone else, the Vietnamese State and people respect, ensure and work towards fundamental human rights. In Vietnam, such fundamental rights as freedom of speech, press, assembly, demonstration, association, belief, religion and non-belief have been exercised and respected as stipulated by the Constitution. The State of Vietnam has over recent years exerted efforts, and attained great socio-economic achievements, to improve people's living conditions, the spokesperson added. The legal system has been improved step-by-step to ensure and bring into play fundamental rights to freedom and development for every Vietnamese citizen in all civil domains, politics, economy, culture and society. To date, Vietnam has issued 90 laws and 100 ordinances in addition to the 1992 Constitution, and between 1987 and 1992, the National Assembly adopted a number of laws and ordinances approximate to those adopted in the seven previous tenures. The above-mentioned attainments have been recognized and highly appreciated worldwide.

It is necessary to assert that Vietnam has no political prisoners and absolutely no political and religious suppression. However, in a democratic country having laws and disciplines, everyone has the same legal and constitutional rights and duties and all violations are prosecuted in accordance with the law".