A concurrent resolution calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnem to expedite the release and emigration of "reeducation" camp detainees.

Calls on the Government of Vietnam to: (1) make public the names of all individuals who continue to be held in "reeducation" camps or prisons in connection with suspected opposition to the Government; (2) immediately release all remaining camp or prison detainees and all individuals imprisoned in Vietnam in recent years because of their political or religious expression or related nonviolent activities; and (3) resume negotiations with the United States, without preconditions, concerning the emigration of current and former detainees and their families from Vietnam.

 
SCON 16 RFH
101st CONGRESS
1st Session
S. CON. RES. 16
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 12, 1989
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to expedite
the release and emigration of `reeducation' camp detainees.
Whereas fourteen years have passed since the end of the Vietnam conflict;
Whereas thousands of opponents of the Government of the Socialist Republic
of Vietnam, including officials of, and others associated with, the former
Republic of Vietnam, were detained without trial in `reeducation' camps or
prisons beginning in 1975;
Whereas a series of large-scale amnesties took place in the late 1980's
resulting in the release of many detainees;
Whereas despite these welcome releases, many Vietnamese remain in long-term
detention because of their suspected opposition to the Government of Vietnam,
and many family members of detainees do not know their status;
Whereas the Government of Vietnam has continued in recent years to imprison
individuals because of their political and religious expression or association
or related nonviolent activity;
Whereas the Government of Vietnam has stated publicly that the remaining
`reeducation' camp or prison detainees would be released and that former
detainees would be allowed to emigrate;
Whereas the United States has repeatedly stated that the resettlement of
`reeducation' camp or prison detainees is one of its highest priorities in
its dealing with Vietnam on humanitarian issues and has made it clear to
the Government of Vietnam that it is willing to allow former and current
detainees to enter the United States;
Whereas at negotiations held in Hanoi in July 1988, the United States
and Vietnam agreed in principle on the resettlement of those released from
`reeducation' camps or prisons and Vietnam reaffirmed that released detainees
and their families could emigrate from Vietnam;
Whereas the Government of Vietnam subsequently suspended negotiations on
the issue of the resettlement of detainees and their families; and
Whereas the willingness of the Government of Vietnam to satisfactorily resolve
this humanitarian issue will have an important bearing on the relationship
between Vietnam and the United States: Now, therefore, be it
  Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That
  the Congress calls on the Government of Vietnam--
  (1) to make public the names of all individuals who continue to be held in
  `reeducation' camps or prisons in connection with suspected opposition to
  the Government of Vietnam;
  (2) to release immediately all remaining long-term `reeducation' camp
  or prison detainees, as well as all individuals imprisoned in Vietnam in
  recent years because of their political or religious expression or related
  nonviolent activities; and
  (3) to resume negotiations, without preconditions, with the United States
  concerning the emigration from Vietnam of current and former detainees
  and their families, in accord with the commitment of the Government of
  Vietnam to allow their emigration.
Passed the Senate June 8 (legislative day, January 3), 1989.
Attest:
WALTER J. STEWART,
Secretary. ning `reeducation' camp or prison det