US sees 'spike' in Vietnam human rights issues

04/02/2010
Bangkok Post

US ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak, seen here in 2009, said on Wednesday there has been a spike in human rights issues in Vietnam but dialogue, not harsher measures.

There has been a spike in human rights issues in Vietnam but dialogue, not harsher measures, is the way to respond, the United States ambassador said Wednesday.

"I think we have a spike in issues of concern on human rights," ambassador Michael Michalak told reporters in a Lunar New Year press conference.

"Is this the beginning of a trend? We don't know but we certainly hope not and that's one of the reasons why we continue to have the dialogue that we have," Michalak said.

Over the past year the US embassy has issued statements of concern at Vietnam's jailing of dissidents, efforts to restrict the media and treatment of a Buddhist group.

The US also holds a regular human rights dialogue with the Vietnamese government, Michalak said.

"In our discussions with the government of Vietnam we have noted that without a free media and functioning civil society it will be difficult for Vietnam to tackle many of the issues it faces such as education reform, corruption and environmental degradation," Michalak said.

Asked whether the US would consider stronger action such as a curtailment of aid, he said that, "at this point, I think we want to continue those dialogues, to see if we can't make some progress."

At the beginning of the year Vietnam took over the rotating chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the 10-nation regional bloc whose charter commits members to "promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms."

"We view this as a good year for Vietnam to demonstrate its leadership in Asean, including all parts of Asean," Michalak said.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the US and Vietnam, which fought a war that lasted several years and ended with the country's reunification in 1975.

Bilateral ties are now "very broad and deep," and the US last year became the largest foreign investor in the communist nation, Michalak said.

More than 20 years ago war-shattered, poverty-stricken Vietnam began to turn away from a planned economy to embrace the free market, a move which last decade made it one of Asia's fastest-growing economies.

But Michalak said the US is concerned about a Vietnamese government draft proposal on price controls.

He said the American Chamber of Commerce as well as other foreign and local business groups were also concerned and in discussions with Vietnamese authorities.

"I hope that we'll be able to come to a satisfactory conclusion," he said.

According to the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, the draft would impose price controls on a variety of products including petrol, gas, steel and cement. It would apply to foreign as well as local private enterprises, in contrast to a current regulation that affects only state-owned firms, the chamber said.