They claimed that Vietnam continued suppressing religions and violating the freedom of religion and belief. Their discordant notes could cut no ice as a majority of Americans have acknowledged the flourishing religions in Vietnam. With this ill-intentioned slander, they hope to press the US Congress not to approve PNTR for Vietnam. Some even called on the US Government to keep Vietnam on the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) regarding religious issues.

They understood that an approval of PNTR bill would remove final barriers in trade relations between the US and Vietnam. In addition, with the removal of Vietnam from the CPC list, they would have no reason to blame Vietnam for violating human rights and religious freedom – two major issues they had many times exploited to intervene in the internal affairs of Vietnam and sabotage the country’s national construction and development efforts.

It is not by chance that these forces cooked up fabrications about Vietnam’s religious affairs. But these gross fabrications could not represent the views of all Americans. Many US politicians recently voiced opposition to those ill-intentioned fabrications. Religion in the Central Highlands region is flourishing. The view was shared by members of a delegation of the Institute for Global Engagement led by Prof. Bob Robert during their fact-finding tour of the region late last month. Prof. Robert visited several churches and met with local religious followers. He witnessed improvements in socio-economic development as well as religious activities in the region, and affirmed that religion in the Central Highlands is really developing. He said all locals are treated equally and have the right to follow their favourite faith voluntarily. Religious followers are united and enjoy happy lives, he said, noting that many churches have been refurbished and decorated beautifully. He said there has been no discrimination as alleged by several western media agencies.

During a press briefing last week, US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Marine said the US Government acknowledged Vietnam’s progress in religious freedom.
US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom John Hanford also made fact-finding tours of the Central Highlands region and said all religious followers in Vietnam enjoy the right to practise their beliefs.

Chuck Searcy, Vice President of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Fund, who has lived and worked in Vietnam for nearly 10 years, said he does not agree with several Americans who say there is no religious freedom in Vietnam. Through his experiences in Vietnam, he said religious activities in the country are blossoming. The number of places of worship have constantly increased. Without a sense of goodwill, he said they will never correctly perceive religious situation in Vietnam.

The fact is that these forces conveniently ignore the rapid development of religion in Vietnam in order to make slanderous allegations against the country on this issue.