December 4, 2013
Canada Raises Human Rights Concerns
with Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam
OTTAWA – On December 3rd, 2013, Senator Thanh Hai Ngo joined Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister, as he hosted a bilateral meeting with a delegation from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam headed by His Excellency Vu Van Ninh, Deputy Prime Minister.
During the meeting, Minister Alexander and Senator Ngo expressed their ongoing concerns about human rights violations in Vietnam, including those pertaining to internet freedom.
“The sentencing of bloggers amounts to internet censorship, and is a violation of freedom of expression,” said Senator Ngo. “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to raise our concerns with high-level officials. I am also pleased with the reduced sentence of blogger Phuong Uyen Nguyen. Hopefully our message will encourage the Vietnamese government to take similar action for other prisoners of conscience, such as Dinh Nguyen Kha and Viet Khang.”
Minister Alexander and Senator Ngo also raised the case of Father Ly and discussed other issues, including trade and immigration. Canada sees potential for growth in Canada-Vietnam relations, particularly in multilateral fora like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Canada encourages Vietnam to protect and promote human rights, freedom of expression and the rule of law for all its citizens.
