U.S. lawmakers slam Vietnam president on human rights

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vietnam's president heard a barrage of criticism Thursday during his historic visit to Washington, with angry U.S. lawmakers saying ties between the former enemies will stagnate until Vietnam's dismal human-rights record improves.

Nguyen Minh Triet, the first president of the communist-led country to visit Washington since the Vietnam War, has tried to keep the focus on vibrant U.S.-Vietnam trade prospects. He is to meet Friday with President George W. Bush at the White House.

But during an hourlong private meeting, senior U.S. lawmakers repeatedly took Triet to task for claims by rights groups that Vietnam has recently ramped up repression of political activists and religious leaders, according to U.S. lawmakers at the meeting.

"Human rights was overwhelmingly the dominant issue. From start to finish, that was the theme," said Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif. "We've got to see a stop to this conduct if this relationship is going to improve."

When asked about Triet's response, Royce answered: "Evasion."

Vietnam does not tolerate any challenge to the Communists' one-party rule; it insists, however, that only lawbreakers are jailed. In recent months, Vietnam has arrested or sentenced at least eight pro-democracy activists, including a dissident Roman Catholic priest who was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said Triet told lawmakers that Vietnam "had lots of human rights, but the dissidents were somehow endangering the security of the country. We pressed hard for more information about exactly what that means."

Triet, in a speech to business leaders before the congressional meeting, avoided any mention of human rights. He urged more U.S. business investment in his fast-growing country and said his government was working hard to resolve difficulties some U.S. companies have experienced.

"We will do our best to help you," Triet told the audience. "We are striving to create a friendly business environment."

Triet said talk of the war was outdated. "Vietnam is peace. Vietnam is friendship. Vietnam is developing dynamically and creatively," he said through an interpreter.

He is leading a delegation of more than 100 Vietnamese businessmen. On Thursday, he signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States, which sometimes acts as a road map to eventual free trade negotiations.

The countries began a bilateral trade agreement in 2001; trade reached almost $10 billion last year.

Sherman Katz, a senior associate in international trade at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Vietnam has "got to be aware that part of the price of doing business with the United States, if you expect the U.S. government to help you, is to clean up some of these" human-rights problems.