Vietnam blasts US over aid restrictions
HANOI - Vietnam lashed out yesterday at a decision by the US House of Representatives to restrict American aid to the communist nation because of human rights concerns, warning it could damage bilateral relations.

The ruling communist party's Nhan Dan newspaper said the Vietnam Human Rights Act, which passed the House on Monday in a 323-45 vote, ran counter to efforts to fully normalise relations between the two former foes.


'The presentation of this so-called Vietnam Human Rights Act at a time when Vietnam-US ties are progressing well and expanding is untimely and detrimental to bilateral relations,' it said in an online editorial.

The legislation bars the US government from increasing non-humanitarian assistance to Vietnam over this fiscal year's level of about US$40 million (S$68.4 million) unless Hanoi sets free political and religious prisoners and improves its overall 'extremely poor' rights record.

Vietnam has been consistently criticised by international human rights groups as well as the US State Department for its repression of political and religious dissent. The government maintains that it has no political or religious prisoners, only lawbreakers.

The Bill also authorises the US president to block any non-humanitarian loans or assistance to Vietnam from the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank, one of its major donors.

Extremely sensitive to criticism of its human rights record, Vietnam accused the US of hypocrisy, saying it had no right to interfere given its own behaviour during the Vietnam War.

'Their war of aggression in Vietnam was the height of their violations of human rights and national self- determination,' the Nhan Dan said.

Under the legislation, which still has to pass the Senate, individuals and non-governmental organisations that promote democracy and human rights are to receive US$4 million in the 2004 and 2005 fiscal years.

Republican Representative Chris Smith from New Jersey, the driving force behind the Bill, said it was aimed at forcing Vietnam out of 'the dark ages of repression, brutality and abuse'. -- AFP, AP

you da man for news sources in the VN thread

i dont even have to bother visiting new sites anymore ahahah

Oh wells some people just need to be spoonfed. LOL jk

Anyway, how's my sig going?

havent started yet xD

man its 2:58 am over here - ill be dozing soon

i said i was making sigs in the thread "what are you doing know" but it was procrastiation that got me, photoshop is open in the background, but i havent touched it hours

lol

dont worry itll come

Take your time, but not too long.

Can't wait to see another of your masterpiece.