AJR 41: Vietnam: arms embargo.

This measure would urge the United States Congress to pass a law to reinstate the arms embargo against Vietnam until such time that human rights in that country significantly improve.

WHEREAS, The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has run a repressive one-party state; and

WHEREAS, The Communist government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam controls all public institutions and uses them to maintain power, including censoring the media and the Internet; and

WHEREAS, The Socialist Republic of Vietnam does not hold free elections and permits child labor, human trafficking, forced disappearances, unlawful deprivation of life, and land restitution to continue; and

WHEREAS, The United States government and the American people have a commitment to assisting the citizens of Vietnam who continue to face persecution and threats from the Communist government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, Widespread human rights abuses continue to occur in Vietnam, precluding citizens rights to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, Human Rights Watch recorded at least 45 cases of assault against dissidents and human rights defenders, including beatings, threats, and property destruction, and is further aware of over 100 political prisoners, in addition to dissidents held under house arrest; and

WHEREAS, The Socialist Republic of Vietnam broke its written promise to not prosecute recent Vietnamese boat refugees upon their return to Vietnam. Instead they were charged, tried, convicted, and jailed for leaving the country, a right that is protected by United Nations international law; and

WHEREAS, The United States government has imposed an embargo on the sale of lethal weapons to Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; and

WHEREAS, The Obama Administration lifted that ban on May 23, 2016, without the effort of releasing the remaining political prisoners or any indication of improved human rights protections for the citizens of Vietnam; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the Congress of the United States to pass a law to reinstate the arms embargo against Vietnam until such time that the human rights situation significantly improves, including the release of all political dissidents and boat refugees currently in prison and under house arrest; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.