The National Conference of Viet Nam Veteran Ministers, an organization composed of clergy who served in Viet Nam, meeting in Lantana, Florida, on October 26th through 30th, 1994, issued the following statement concerning the issue of religious persecution in Viet Nam:
In a statement issued by this organization in 1993, we called upon the government of the United States to normalize relationships between our nation and the government of Viet Nam. We commend our nation's leaders for moving in this direction.
Now that we are moving towards a better relationship based upon mutual economic self-interest we remind the governments of both the United States and Viet Nam that little progress towards a true friendship can be made among our nations until the free and unimpeded interchange of ideas is allowed.
We would also share our strong belief that the government of Viet Nam does little to advance its cause within the United States by continuing to imprison and oppress religious activists of a variety of faith communities. We call upon the government of Viet Nam to immediately free individuals whose movements have bee restricted and ability to speak circumscribed.
We call upon the government of the United States to continually advocate for increased freedoms for the people of Viet Nam, for to do less would be to betray not only our national ideals but also those who have served our country, often paying the highest price imaginable.
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