Allister raises religious persecution in Vietnam

02 December 2005

In a debate in the European Parliament on human rights abuses in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, DUP MEP Jim Allister highlighted persecution of Christians under the oppressive regimes governing these countries.  He questioned why EU aid was flowing there while human rights continued to be denied.

In the course of his remarks Mr Allister said:-

"There is no point in us debating human rights abuses in these, or any other countries, unless the EU is prepared to act on the stipulation in its bilateral agreements with Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, that respect for human rights is a condition for the continuance of EU aid. 
That stipulation continues to be breached on a daily basis, but we still pump in aid as if all was well, and thereby we prop up these oppressive regimes.

All is very far from well.  I have time only to refer to abuses of religious freedom.  In Vietnam persecution of Christians is rampant and particularly dire in respect of minority Protestant Christian churches in Veitnam's Central Highlands and among the Hmong tribal group in the north of the country.  Rev Quang and other associates have been relentlessly hounded by the communist authorities.

When the President of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights addressed a public hearing in this Parliament in September he described Vietnam as " prison for its people" governed by a "red mafia financed by the European taxpayer".  That is a stinging indictment of the EU's policy in this region."

EU Parliament