This is one of our follow-up efforts to promote the WWTK Campaign after our request for the public disclosure of the 1990 Cheng-du Conference was refused by the Department of People’s Wishes (Southern Office of the National Assembly).
VBN representatives explained to US officials that the aim of the WWTK Campaign was to promote the right to know and to demand transparency from the Government of Vietnam regarding issues of national interests. But instead of replying to WWTK’s request, the authorities used violence against our members and closed down the National Assembly’s Southern Office.
VBN members also pointed out that although Vietnamese citizens have to shoulder the main responsibility for the Campaign, they need international support, especially from foreign governments. They also discussed with US officials about how the WWTK request may be sent to the National Assembly via diplomatic channels.
US Consular representatice, Mr. Sellers, assured us that the US Government is concerned and supportive of peaceful efforts to improve human rights such as freedom of speech and the right to know. The US Consulate expressed hope that the push to improve Vietnam’s human right situation will soon produce good results.
The three US consular officials also expressed concerns about the safety of civil society activists in Vietnam after VBN members briefed them about various methods used by Vietnamese authorities to suppress people who fight for the respect of human rights and for democracy - citing the case of violence being used against blogger Nguyễn Hoàng Vi.
Dương Lâm, Me Nam - Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, Charles Sellers,
Betsy Allens, Nguyen Hoang Vi and Garrett Harkins