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November 15, 2006 at 06:08:25
by John Carey Page 1 of 2 page(s) |
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President Bush has left to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Hanoi, Vietnam. This is an historic trip that recognizes Vietnam's entry into the world economic community of nations.
President Bush is joining China's President Hu Jintao and as many as 21 other heads of state in Vietnam.
Last week Vietnam finally joined the World Trade Organization after many unsuccessful attempts. Vietnam has Asia's second fastest growing economy and WTO entry is anticipated to further spark the economy, the way it did when China entered the WTO in 2001
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But the U.S. Congress rejected legislation to grant Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to the one-time US enemy partially spoiling the serenity of President Bush's week.
Vietnam's GDP growth rate this year is projected to be 8.2%, the second-fastest in Asia behind China and virtually tied with that of India. The stock market in Ho Chi Minh City is up a whopping 70%.
On July 4 we wrote in these pages about the new hopes for progress, openness and respect for human rights in Vietnam. A new government led by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had just taken power. The new prime minister vowed to continue economic reforms and to tackle the country's pervasive corruption.
Already there have been manifest signs of progress in Vietnam.
For fourteen long months, the communist government of Vietnam held in jail without charges U.S. citizen Mrs. Cuc Foshee and others. They were finally charged on November 2 and went to trial. They were convicted of plotting to use radio systems to encourage the overthrow of the government of Vietnam. They were all sentenced to remain in jail until December.
But thankfully, the government of Vietnam granted Mrs. Foshee and the others clemency and all came home to teary eyed family reunions in the United States on November 13, 2006.
That same day, the United States of America dropped Vietnam from its list of nations that severely violate religious freedom -- a decision described by a State Department official as one of its "most significant announcements" of the year.
Religious freedom is on the rise in Vietnam. Last week we met Catholic Bishop Nguyen Van De. He was appointed last month by Pope Benedict XVI. This was the second consecutive major appointment of a Catholic Church official in Vietnam without government review and approval since 1975.
Bishop Ngo Quang Kiet of the archdiocese of Hanoi was also appointed without the interference of the Communist government of Vietnam.
Bishop Nguyen Van De is the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Bui Chu, Nam Dinh, Vietnam (formerly North Vietnam). He is the assistant to Bishop Hoang Van Tiem.
Our Catholic pastor told us that when he was a student, Nguyen Van De had to teach him "under the table." From 1975 until just these last few years, religious education was forbidden in Vietnam.
In Bui Chu 5 years ago there were only 33 priests. Now there are 150. Next year bishop Tiem and De will ordain 65 new priests.
Cardinal Pham Minh Man wrote: "Everywhere the Vietnamese Catholics fill up all the churches, the seminaries and convents are full of vocation to the priesthood and religious life."
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| 5 comments |
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Is there something wrong with Mr. Carey's reading skills?
click here The above is the previus entry by Mr. Carey to opednews. including my comments and the comments where posting by the Famster tells us the story about Cuc Foshee and others including the unbelievably soft sentencing for the crimes committed. Despite my questions, Famster's comments with names of the accused, case details and trial website Mr. Carey does not seem to even have read those and it does seem to me that I am reading his articles as the ones of the programmed computer. I again would like to hear Mr. Carey's answers to my questions regarding the comparison of the justice systems in Vietnam and USA, listing the cases of JW Lindt, Jose Padillia, the ' Brooklyn Bridge' case and a lady lawyer in NY (I am sorry to have forgotten her name). So far what I see is that Mr. Carey just tries to project his dreamland on us ignoring the reality with extraordinary ability. Opinion is one thing but imposing policies is very much another. I would advise Mr. Carey to stop his everyday coffee routine and look around at least for the first time. by Mark Sashine (72 articles, 19 quicklinks, 269 diaries, 4101 comments [131 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006 at 8:30:01 AM
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Vietnam, Mrs. Foshee and a Brighter Future
Thankful for today; hopeful about tomorrow After more than a year in prison in a foreign country, a U.S. Citizen returns home with gratitude and thanks. As we gather around the table for this year's Thanksgiving, our family will have something very special to celebrate: the release of Cuc Foshee from her imprisonment in Vietnam. Cuc was not with us for Thanksgiving last year; she spent that day as she spent every day of the last fourteen months, in a prison cell. We have always loved the United States, but today we have a far greater appreciation for the freedom we Americans enjoy, and for the Court system that protects that freedom. Cuc Foshee has always spoken out strongly, as a citizen here in the United States, for what she believes: that democracy and human rights are things to which every person is entitled. She learned a hard lesson about how other countries work, and she was punished harshly in the country of her birth for her beliefs. We would like to thank all of you who worked for Cuc's release. In particular we would like to recognize: Senator Mel Martinez of Florida, for his tireless efforts to do what was right and honorable. Cuc would not be home with us today were it not for him, and for the help of Senator Nelson. We also would like to thank Congressman Ric Keller of Florida, and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren of California who were instrumental in resolving Cuc's case. We are grateful to have the support of elected officials with the tenacity to pursue a just cause. We want to recognize the journalists who brought attention to this case, telling the pubic what was going on with Cuc. In particular we would like to thank John Carey of the Washington Times and the Peace and Freedom Blog (http://peace-and-freedom.blogspot.com/); Babita Persaud of the Orlando Sentinel; Jonathan Cunningham of the Orlando weekly; Glenn Kessler of the Washington Post, as well as the many others who told this story.o We greatly appreciate the support of the law firm of Holland and Knight, who worked with us on a pro bono basis. Their attorneys spent so many hours working on the case, doing what only a great law firm can do for a person in legal jeopardy. Liz's own Orlando-based law firm of Cooney, Mattson, P.A. supported her every step of the way. We would like to express our appreciation to the State Department and the many wonderful people there who helped Cuc get through the tough times of her incarceration. Ms. Phuong of the U.S Embassy in Hanoi, and Mr. Martin Oppus from the U.S. Embassy in Saigon were especially supportive when she was most in need. There were many others who were instrumental in getting Cuc released, including the thousands of people who signed her petition, and so many of the citizens of Cuc's home town of Orlando. Cuc is proud to live in such a wonderful and caring community. President Bush is en route to Hanoi now. There, he will meet with many world leaders who are interested in doing business in Vietnam, and in drawing Vietnam into the greater world community. At this key time, we challenge the countries and the companies who will do business in Vietnam to do so ethically; and we call upon the Vietnamese government itself to rise to the standards of democracy and human rights that will earn them a rightful place in that world community. Today, as we count our blessings for the return of our long-absent relative, we can't help but think of others in need. When we hear that Cong Thanh Do has listed scores of other political prisoners whose cases go unresolved, our sympathy for their families is sincere. When we hear Mike Benge of the Montagnard Human Rights Group speak, we are reminded that Cuc's release is just one step on the world's long journey to universal human rights. We applaud Vietnam's economic progress, and the political progress which they have made; we look forward to ever stronger ties between the United States and Vietnam; above all we reaffirm how blessed we are to be Americans. Liz McCausland (daughter of Cuc Foshee) Robert Ende (brother-in-law of Cuc Foshee) by John E. Carey (208 articles, 0 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 107 comments) on Thursday, Nov 16, 2006 at 1:23:52 AM
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Reply: I just do not know what to say more:
I ask meaningful questions and receive a programmed answer about nothing. It is as if I am talking to the pillow or something. I am through with Mr. Carey. I think, he does it all the time- just ignores the reality. Or maybe he IS a computer? I am outta here... by Mark Sashine (72 articles, 19 quicklinks, 269 diaries, 4101 comments [131 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Nov 16, 2006 at 7:18:26 AM
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To panurg
Be careful who you agree with. The message below is from a Communist student in London. His rich Communist father has so much respect for Vietnam's University system that he sends his son overseas for training (as most do). "It was nice having this conversation with you. I can see all of us: you, your wife and me have one thing in common: we all want the best for the people of Vietnam although our methods might be difference. I'm grateful that you - as a person who is not directly affected by the situation in Vietnam - care so much and have been doing so much for Vietnam. Thank you bac John, Hieu" (bac means Uncle) by John E. Carey (208 articles, 0 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 107 comments) on Sunday, Nov 19, 2006 at 2:14:31 AM
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Vatican called
My wife and I got a call from Vatican City in Rome today and we were informed that His Holiness the Pope read this essay after it appeared in The Washington Times. John Carey and Honglien Do by John E. Carey (208 articles, 0 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 107 comments) on Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 11:21:09 AM
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