Personally, we hope everyone who reads this sends a message to Senators Baucus and Smith along with president Bush. Tell them "No APEC while Do and Foshee are held."
Just as China's Communist government has long controlled print media, TV and the internet, Vietnam follow the Communist pattern. In Vietnam, many web sites, like that of the U.S. Department of State, are "blocked" and cannot be accessed from within China.
To be completely honest, Vietnam has tried to look more caring, loving and democratic in recent weeks in hope of wooing U.S. Senators and others.
On August 28, 2006, Vietnam announced the release of prominent dissident and pro-democracy activist Pham Hong Son. Son was originally sentenced to five years in prison. His crime? He translated articles from the U.S. State Department web site for an online journal. The articles were titled "What is democracy?"
Finally, the government of Iran continues its crackdown on freedom of speech. Satellite dishes are the focus of this current effort.
An August 20 news report said, "Iran's police forces have been instructed to use all means, including helicopters, to locate and confiscate privately-owned satellite dishes, which are illegal in Iran."
"A senior police commander in the north-eastern [Iranian] province of North Khorassan told local journalists in the provincial capital Mashad on Saturday that his forces have been using choppers to spot the satellite dishes and report them to ground units, which would then search the suspected homes and seize the dishes. Owners are imprisoned and expected to pay a heavy fine."
So, we at Peace and Freedom say what we have said before: governments that restrict freedom of speech and free and open access to world news, are up to no good. Governments like that in Cuba, China, Vietnam and Iran wish to control, if not brainwash, the minds of their citizens.
Every peace and freedom loving person should be outraged and concerned.
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