Clinton Is Urged to Confront Vietnam on Human Rights

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

BANGKOK — The Vietnamese government has arrested or convicted a half-dozen dissidents and bloggers in the days before a visit to Hanoi by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to the United States Embassy and human rights groups.

Washington has often voiced its concern over human rights issues in Vietnam, and the latest actions drew sharp criticism from some members of Congress as well as a statement from the United States Embassy in Hanoi urging their release.

Members of Congress and human rights groups are urging Mrs. Clinton to speak out in support of human rights while she is in Hanoi on Friday and Saturday for a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders.

Three dissidents have been convicted on charges of causing public disorder, and three bloggers have been arrested at a time of increased pressure on critics. Many analysts say the clampdown is intended to silence debate before a Communist Party congress in January.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/world/asia/30vietnam.html

[ixion]

1. The US has ZERO moral highground to talk about human rights...

Perhaps if we restored the Rule of Law, we might regain that ground, but right now, with Black Box sites, etc around the world, and the fact that people from other countries die everyday from weapons purchased by our tax dollars.

Nope, we've got no room to chastise anyone.

[notesdev]

3. Yup

A country that imprisons four times more people than your average totalitarian police state doesn't have a lot of room to lecture others about human rights.

[Make7]

2. Doesn't it seem somewhat disingenuous to claim concern for human rights in Vietnam? ( n/t )

[iverglas]

4. I was going to suggest "ironic"

But hey, disingenuous works. ;)

[laylah]

5. Well, I urge her to confront

us before we start pointing fingers!

Jenn

[Better Believe It]

6. Perhaps she should urge President Obama to not send guns to nations that use child soldiers ....

to advance human rights.

[bemildred]

7. How many people do we still have at Gitmo? How about Bagram? nt

[Ticonderoga]

8. After lying about the Gulf of Tonkin

"incident" and slaying 3 million of their citizens, we are in no position to say a word to them that does not begin with "I'm sorry" What a joke. Vietnam should just tell us to fuck off.

[Jim Sagle]

9. She should have a chat with her President about human rights here in the US of A.