Vietnam’s absence from “Countries of Particular Concern” disappointing

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, slammed the State Department for failing to list Vietnam as a “Country of Particular Concern” in its Annual Report on International Religious Freedom.  Royce issued the following statement: 

“Religious freedom remains under attack in Vietnam.  Decade after decade, the Communist government in Vietnam has denied its people the most basic freedoms.  The Obama Administration’s failure yet again to list Vietnam as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ is disappointing, and the Vietnamese people deserve better.”

Note:  Last week, Chairman Royce introduced H.Res. 218, legislation calling on the State Department to re-list Vietnam as a “Country of Particular Concern” for its gross religious freedom violations.  Chairman Royce is the lead cosponsor of the Vietnam Human Rights Act.  Additionally, he is co-chair emeritus of the Congressional Vietnam Caucus.

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