WASHINGTON, D.C. February 25, 2009 -- Today, the U.S. Department of State released its 2008 Human Rights Report. The section on Vietnam detailed the wide range of human rights abuses that remain endemic across the country. Of particular concern, Vietnam continues to deny its citizens the right to assemble freely, as well as freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

"This report gives in detail many of the human rights abuses that continue to plague Vietnam, but I'd like to see the State Department take a tougher stance. Merely calling the situation 'unsatisfactory,' as this report does, is a grave understatement. We need to be condemning these abuses in much tougher terms," said Royce.

Of particular concern is the Vietnamese Communist Government's control of all information. As the 2008 Human Rights Report found, Vietnam has no free, independent press, and restrictions on internet access are worsening. Bloggers who publish material that criticizes the state are often heavily fined or imprisoned.

Religious freedom also remains a top concern, as the report details the continued harassment of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, the Catholic Church, and Hoa Hao Buddhists. As the report finds, "unregistered" religious gatherings in the Northwest Highlands are continually broken up by "contract thugs" who harass or beat religious practitioners. Despite these findings, Royce feared that the report does not do enough.

"Detailing the continued harassment of religious practitioners is helpful, but this report falls short. Without calling for Vietnam to be put back on the list of 'Countries of Particular Concern,' I give this section a failing grade," said Royce.

In response to the State Department's continued disregard for religious freedom in Vietnam, Royce introduced a resolution - H.Res.20 - calling on the State Department to once again list Vietnam as a "Country of Particular Concern."

Rep. Ed Royce is a senior member on the Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment Subcommittee. Additionally Royce serves on the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam and the Caucus on Human Rights.