MEPs demand end to human rights abuses in Laos and Vietnam

5.08.00pm GMT Wed 2nd Dec 2009

The European Parliament has condemned violations of religious freedoms in Laos and Vietnam and called on those governments to end all repression of freedom of religion, belief and expression.

The resolution, as concerns Vietnam, was instigated by London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford.

The Vietnamese government has illegally imprisoned hundreds of peaceful government critics and church activists, while many religious organisations that wish to remain independent of the government are banned and their members persecuted.

There is a suspicion that the Vietnamese government felt able to act in a repressive way now that its WTO membership has been approved and it has been removed from a US State Department religion blacklist.

Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman, commented:

"I called for EU action after meeting a delegation of monks and nuns from the Bat Nhat monastery in Vietnam. In September the monastery was violently attacked and vandalised, and many of the monks and nuns left without food or water for days afterwards."

"With Vietnam becoming the chair of ASEAN in 2010, the international community must greatly increase the pressure on that country to improve its shameful human rights record. I am glad my fellow MEPs also felt strongly about this issue. Both Laos and Vietnam need to know that their records are under the international spotlight."

ENDS