Written question asked by Brian Jenkins (Labour) on Thursday, 6 May 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 May 2004. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Thursday, 13 May 2004 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions the Department has had with the Vietnamese Government regarding human rights abuses against the Central Highlands minority Christian population.

Answer: Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Department has had with the Vietnamese Government regarding human rights abuses against the Central Highlands minority Christian population. [172509] Mr. Mike O'Brien: I raised human rights and the situation in the Central Highlands with the Vietnamese government during my visit to Vietnam in March. We are very concerned about the recent violence in the region, and the reported deaths of several protesters. Our Ambassador in Hanoi expressed our concern to the Vietnamese government on 16 April and I subsequently discussed the issue with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister on 4 May, and with Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang, whom I met in London on 5 May. The EU has also made representations, calling on the Vietnamese authorities to respect fully international human rights standards in their response to demonstrations; to allow the international community access to the area; and to address the grievances of the ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 172509; 421 c520-1W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Human rights Ethnic groups Minority groups Violence Vietnam Christianity
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk