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The outgoing US ambassador to Vietnam said Thursday the country's
poor human rights record was the biggest disappointment experienced
during his three years in Hanoi.
Ambassador Michael Marine has urged Vietnamese officials to
improve religious freedoms and treatment of pro-democracy
activists. The country has released a number of high-profile
dissidents from jail during Marine's tenure, but it has also
continued to arrest and sentence others to prison terms.
"I wish I could say that it's improving, but I can't," he told
reporters. "It's perhaps my biggest disappointment."
In April, Vietnamese police physically blocked a group of
dissidents' wives from attending a tea at Marine's home. He had
also invited visiting Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., who also
witnessed the incident and accused police of manhandling the
women.
Vietnam's government does not tolerate any form of dissent.
Hanoi maintains that only lawbreakers are jailed and that no one is
punished for their political or religious beliefs.
"There are laws on the books that allow the authorities to move
against people for expressing their opinions, organizing in any way
or calling for political change," Marine said. "Those are
fundamental human rights that I strongly believe are universal and
should be enjoyed by the people of Vietnam."
But Marine praised the former foes' growing relationship in
other areas. Two-way trade continues to boom, and he said the two
sides are preparing to move forward soon to address environmental
issues near an old Agent Orange storage site at a former US air
base in Danang.
US forces sprayed the defoliant during the Vietnam War to
destroy Vietnamese troops' jungle cover. It contains highly toxic
dioxin, which has been linked to a number of serious health issues.
Vietnam says 3 million of its citizens have suffered health
problems due to exposure to the herbicide. Washington insists there
is not enough scientific evidence to link Agent Orange to health
problems.
Marine, who will retire after leaving his post in Vietnam, said
the two sides' military ties continue to grow, including work to
recover American soldiers still unaccounted for from the Vietnam
War. He said US Navy vessels may soon be involved in underwater
searches for remains offshore.
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