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TRANSNATIONAL RADICAL PARTY
NGO with Category 1 (General)
Consultative Status with ECOSOSOC of the UN
866 UN Plaza, Suite 408 New York, N.T.
10017 Tel (212) 980-1031 Fax 980-1072
trp_ny@yahoo.com -
www.radicalparty.org
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UN PERMANENT INDIGENOUS
FORUM: VIETNAM EXTENDS ATTACK TO OTHER INDIGENOUS GROUPS
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On May 24, The Vietnamese Government took the floor at the Fourth Session of
the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to attack, once again,
the right of independent NGOs to participate in the works of the UN.
Vietnam, who made a statement on the agenda item related to the protection of
human right and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, stated: "For the
effectiveness of the Forum's work and its impact on needy peoples around the
world, its deliberations and recommendations should be based on factual,
accurate and truthful information. Unfortunately, accurate and truthful
information is not what a handful of individuals with political agendas
belonging to organizations such as the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation, United
Association of Khmer Kampuchea Krom Buddhist Monks and the Montagnard Foundation
provide this Forum. We have more than once registered our protest in this
regard. To retain its prestige, the Forum needs to take measures to put an end
to their abuses".
This statement confirms the opposition of the Vietnamese Government to the
independent voices that try to address the serious human rights violations and
discriminations suffered by the citizens of Vietnam, according to international
law, and in particular by the indigenous peoples who have inhabited that land
for hundreds of years, such as the Montagnards and the Khmer Krom people.
As part of its effort to stifle independent voices at the UN, over the last two
years the Vietnamese Government has tried to suspend the Consultative Status
with the UN of the Transnational Radical Party, accusing Mr. Kok Ksor, one of
its members and the President of MFI of being a terrorist. Despite the fact that
those allegations were rejected yet again by the ECOSOC in July 2004, Vietnam is
still pursuing sanctions against the Transnational Radical Party and continues
to portray MFI as a terrorist organization.
On the other hand, what the Vietnamese statement at the Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues indicates, is its intention to block all the voices, not only
the TRP, but also the Montagnard Foundation, the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation
and the United Association of Khmer Kampuchea Krom Buddhist Monks - duly
accredited to the Indigenous Forum - that call on the international community to
ensure the respect of the fundamental rights of the Vietnamese citizens.
The TRP therefore urges all those who care about the United Nations and the
respect of human rights, to keep in mind Vietnam's opposition to freedom of
speech, while granting it favorable economic policies and political credit; a
privilege that should be instead tied to serious democratic reforms and the
respect of fundamental freedoms of the Vietnamese citizens, as mandated by the
various human rights instruments ratified by Vietnam.
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