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  VOA Exclusive: US Official Says Vietnam Must Progress on Rights to Deepen US
                                      Ties

   A senior U.S. diplomat says Vietnam must make "demonstrable progress"
   on human rights in the coming months, if it wants to deepen its
   relationship with the United States, a former wartime foe.
   In an exclusive interview with VOA, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
   for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Scott Busby said he stressed the
   importance of human rights to Vietnamese officials on a trip to Vietnam
   last week.
   Busby visited the country from October 29 to November 2, traveling to
   Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to meet representatives of the government
   and Vietnamese civil society groups.
   In an interview Wednesday, Busby said the United States needs Vietnam
   to show signs of progress on human rights in the "near term."
   "Such signs would include releasing some people who have been detained
   or imprisoned for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of
   expression; signing, ratifying and implementing the convention against
   torture, lifting any and all restrictions on the Internet, enhancing
   the state of religious freedom, and allowing civil society to operate
   freely."
   The Vietnamese government`s Washington embassy did not provide a
   comment on the talks with Busby when contacted by VOA.
   Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang said in July that his government
   has made "sustained efforts to protect and promote human rights."
   Busby said recent arrests and harassment of Vietnamese social activists
   were a "primary topic" of his meetings with government officials.
   "We are stressing to the government the importance of the activities
   that civil society is engaged in, whether it is religious practice,
   exercising rights to free speech, working on human rights issues, or
   organizing humanitarian activities. We have clearly indicated to the
   government the esteem in which we hold these activities, and I did the
   same while I was there. We do provide some programmatic support to
   civil society as well, although I can`t get into the details of what
   that entails."
   Busby said he met with a "wide array" of civil society members and was
   impressed by what he called their "energy and optimism" in the face of
   government restrictions.
   One Vietnamese blogger who met the U.S. official in Ho Chi Minh City on
   Friday is Pham Chi Dung. Speaking to VOA by phone, Pham said he tried
   to help Busby understand what he and other activists want to achieve.
   "The main goal of civil society in Vietnam is to help resolve social,
   economic and political issues. `Civil society` helps to voice people`s
   concerns regarding the nation`s sovereignty, basic human rights,
   protecting land rights for farmers and legitimate rights of workers, as
   well as (their concerns about) corruption."
   Pham said those who want to help Vietnamese activists should be careful
   about the kind of assistance they provide.
   "Vietnam`s civil society does not want financial support from the
   United States or any foreign country, but rather moral support for
   civil society-related activities such as establishing civic culture or
   civic forums both online and offline. If we get support financially, we
   will be accused of receiving money from foreign countries with the aim
   of overthrowing the government."
   Busby said he hopes to return to Vietnam next year.
   (This report was produced in collaboration with VOA`s Vietnamese
   service.)
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/voa-exclusive-us-official-says-vietnam-must-progress-on-rights-to-deepen-us-ties/1785284.html