a history of vietnam on may 11, 2007

Rev. Nguyen Thanh, from Vietnam, spoke to Congress. He mentioned the filth of the prisons that prisoners of conscience in Vietnam are required to endure. He spoke of the gross human rights violations in Vietnam ranging from the sale of underage girls to prostitution rings, to the arrest and imprisonment of anybody claiming any religion other than atheism (including Buddhism and Christianity), to the mass confiscation of property by the Communist government, to the physical silencing of those who would speak against the Communist party in any way shape or form. He failed to mention the plight of the Montagnards in northern Vietnam who are marginalized, and left without proper food and water.

At the very same moment, in Vietnam, two lawyers, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thai Cong Nhan were sentenced to five and four year prison terms, respectively. They are in prison for their work to end the human rights violations in Vietnam, only a few of which were mentioned before Congress.

They will never get those years back.

Pray for Vietnam, write your congressman and senators. There is great joy in being God's hands, feet, and voices to our brothers and sisters in Christ who have lost theirs.

The article about the lawyers is here, and the Reverend's speech is here. I encourage you to read them both.