Hanoi John

Ben Kenobi · February 21, 2004, 17:37

Kerry (D-MA) Inaction Kills Human Rights Legislation

WASHINGTON - Despite growing calls from human rights groups, US Army Special Forces veterans, and pleas from homeless refugees fleeing genocide Senator John Kerry (D-MA) has stalled the Vietnam Human Rights Act (Senate Bill HR-2833) since September 2001.

The stalled Bill would have sanctioned the communist Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) against further racially based sterilization, terrorism and genocide of the Christian hilltribe Degar peoples living in the Central Highlands region of the country.

The Degar tribes people, commonly known to westerners as the Montagnards, are ethnically unrelated to the Vietnamese. The Central Highlands region was never a traditional part of Vietnam. The region has been the home of the Degar tribes for at least a thousand years.

With HR-2833 stalled by John Kerry of Massachussetts, Vietnam is free to continue its widely publicized "cultural leveling" program. This means Vietnam will continue without restriction the ethnic cleansing of the Degar Christians in the Central Highlands region in an attempt to gain control of the Degar land and resources.

As recently as 1970 there were an estimated 3 million Montagnards in various tribes living in the region but as a result of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's ongoing campaign of ethnic terror and extermination, the total population of Montagnards is now below 650,000. Nearly two thirds of the Montagnards have died in only 32 years, including more than half the male population.

This is undisguised genocide.

This is why HR-2833 was passed without delay through the House of Representatives last summer by a margin of 411 to 1 to bring an immediate halt to this tragic situation. The Bill was then rushed to the Senate where immediate passage was expected due to the urgency of the current situation.

But since September 2001 Senator John Kerry of Massachussetts has thwarted all attempts to bring HR-2833 to the floor for a vote. Kerry's deliberate sabotage of this urgent legislation has caused grave concern in the human rights community, especially because there is no explanation for Kerry's position. Attempts to contact the Senator on this issue have been ignored by his office.

John Kerry needs to do some explaining before this gets worse. Or simply change his position. The Daily Catholic is listing him as a "Herod's Hero" for having the second worst human rights record in the US Congress. A Montagnard source informed us it was common knowledge in the 1970s that there were serious business dealings involving Kerry and the late Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown with the new incoming communist government. Windfall profits of more than half a million dollars were paid to Ron Brown according to the same source. Sources inside and outside the Degar community say Kerry has proposed future dealings with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Has Senator John Kerry been pressured by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to kill or stall Bill HR-2833? Is this why Senator Kerry so eager to grant Most Favorable Nation (MFN) trade status for Vietnam?

Kerry's inaction on HR-2833 allows the Vietnam's genocide and sterilization programs in the Central Highlands region to continue today.

Is Senator Kerry going to stall HR-2833 until the region is under complete control of the Vietnamese, until all the Degar Montagnard peoples driven out or killed, before he allows the Vietnam Human Rights Act onto the Senate floor for a vote?

Copyright © 2002, Green Berets for Human Rights

Capt Dizle · February 21, 2004, 17:41

Now Ben, tsk tsk.

The Mad Monk · February 21, 2004, 17:46

http://blog.forclark.com/story/2004/1/31/5445/28039

Now Clark, tsk, tsk.

Capt Dizle · February 21, 2004, 17:48

Not to threadjack but Kerry's close financial ties to these commies is well known:
~~~~~~
In December of 1992, not long after Kerry was quoted in the world press stating "President Bush should reward Vietnam within a month for its increased cooperation in accounting for American MIAs," Vietnam announced it had granted Colliers International, based in Boston, Massachusetts, a contract worth billions designating Colliers International as the exclusive real estate agent representing Vietnam.

That deal alone put Colliers in a position to make tens of millions of dollars on the rush to upgrade Vietnam's ports, railroads, highways, government buildings, etc. C. Stewart Forbes, Chief Executive Officer of Colliers International, is Kerry's cousin. Kerry was portrayed in The New Yorker as a proud Vietnam veteran and "war hero" who, as chairman of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, dared to take on and defeat the "mendacious POW lobby."
~~~~~~~~~

asleepathewheel · February 21, 2004, 17:50

Quote:

Originally posted by jimmytrick
C. Stewart Forbes, Chief Executive Officer of Colliers International, is Kerry's cousin.

Not to threadjack, but it seems everyone is related to Kerry, from GW to lowly poly posters.

The Mad Monk · February 21, 2004, 17:56

This appears to be the original source

Ben Kenobi · February 21, 2004, 18:04

Thanks Mad Monk, but this is the original source:

http://www.gb4hr.net/Pages/Kerry%20S...egislation.htm

And here is the bill that Kerry stalled.

http://www.gb4hr.net/Pages/HR2833.htm

The Mad Monk · February 21, 2004, 18:11

What I mean is, that's the site that's supporting it.

Also found this there:

Quote:

Dear Mr. President;

Recently, the Washington media published an outstanding editorial by longtime USAID executive and former POW Michael Benge recounting some of the latest in a series of horrors that have befallen the Montagnard people in Vietnam’s Central Highlands region, all orchestrated by the government in Hanoi. As a Special Forces officer living with them in 1968 and 1969, and like most other green berets, I quickly grew to love the Montagnards and have continued to fight for their rights to this day. They were, during the Vietnam War, America’s staunchest and most loyal allies, and we have abandoned them; and now, they have become victims of state-sponsored terrorism, mainly because they have simply tried to worship God. They are being starved, raped, tortured, and murdered, at an alarming rate. They have fled to Cambodia with bounty hunter teams going after them with exorbitant bounties on their leadership promised by Hanoi.

Sir, I have the utmost respect for your leadership, vision, and commitment and also understand that we must delineate clear-cut priorities in our on-going War On Terrorism, but should we not; first and foremost, protect our friends who are being terrorized after first securing our own homes?

Some years ago, a US State Department spokesman said to me, “Why should Washington care about some guys in a jungle wearing loincloths who shoot bamboo crossbows and throw spears at Soviet-made tanks?”

I replied, “Because they were our loyal friends and allies and were promised by us from 1958 on that we would protect them if they would fight for us. They believed us simply because there is no word for “lying” in the language of any of the thirty-one tribes of Montagnards.”

Those who fought alongside our green berets are now being made to drink pig’s blood and being tortured in village squares and forced to denounce Jesus Christ for simply trying to practice Christian worship in their homes and villages. While they are being jailed and tortured left and right, Hanoi thumbs their noses at us, the UN, and anyone who tries to monitor the treatment of the Montagnards, who call themselves Degar, meaning the “Sons of the Mountains.”

I know that Hanoi is not a nuclear, biological, or chemical threat. I know that Vietnam is a gold mine waiting to be mined by US interests. But Mr. President, before we allow certain overzealous congressmen to pass more lucrative trade agreements with Hanoi, let us please first remember that a country without honor is simply a very large non-profit business, concerned only with its annual report, holdings, and image. Many men, like me, who wore the Green Beret with pride, gave our word, on behalf of your valored office and the distinguished Congress, to these people that we would protect them, because they always protected us so well. They protected us, your finest fighting men, the US Army’s Special Forces.

Our friends are now in dire straits. They don’t want to invade our borders and take American jobs. They want to live in their own homes in peace. They want schools, hospitals, and representation in government, freedom to worship God, freedom from torture, involuntary servitude, confiscation, over-taxation, and murder. Is that really too much to ask?

Almost every Green Beret who served in the Central Highlands region during the Vietnam War can relate a story to you about how some Montagnards saved his life. We, of the US Army Special Forces volunteered. We have been wounded, killed, sickened, and carry some horrible memories to our graves, but we do not complain or whine about this. We are glad to do this for our great nation, but we are men of honor, Sir. Please do not ask us anymore to keep breaking our word to our friends and blood brothers? Please do not make us witness anymore our country breaking its word to our close allies . . .The Sons of the Mountains. Please do what is just and right.

A few years ago, when some enslaved Montagnards complained they could not work anymore because of starvation, PAVN officials taunted some Montagnards and told them, “Have your Jesus supply you with food from the skies!”

Mr. President, God often uses people to accomplish miracles.

Blessings,

Don Bendell

http://www.gb4hr.net/Pages/Yarded.htm

...on the off chance anyone thinks this is yet another Republican ruse.

Ben Kenobi · February 21, 2004, 18:20

Quote:

“Have your Jesus supply you with food from the skies!”

Mr. President, God often uses people to accomplish miracles.

And perhaps he shall.

Wish I had heard of this earlier, but this is all news to me.

MichaeltheGreat · February 21, 2004, 19:37

Nobody seems to blanch at either Republicans or Democrats enthusiastically kissing China's ass in the name of trade and cheap labor while ignoring the far more abysmal legacy of human rights violations by the Chinese.

Why give the sudden wailing and gnashing of teeth over the Montagnards now, when we've been ****ing them over ever since their mercenary days for CIA, MACVSOG and 5th SFG? While we're on the subject of ****ed over Montagnards, where's the wailing and gnashing of teeth for ****ed over Hoa Hao and Cao Dai or Hmong? Hey, there's trade money to be made, or political points to be made now, right? Let's not pretend we actually give a **** about a few more dead gooks in the greater context of things?

Besides, we poured so much Agent Orange on their asses it's a miracle there are any left who don't glow in the dark and have a random assortment of extra limbs, to go with the normal package of undescended testicles and sterility.

CharlesBHoff · February 21, 2004, 19:39

I will be total opp to senting our military back into Vietman it is none of our bussieness.

Ben Kenobi · February 21, 2004, 19:42

Perhaps it's because no one in the media has the balls to call Kerry on this one.

Regardless of China, this bill passed 411-1 in the House. In the Senate Kerry opposed the bill, and caused it to die.

Now, my question, is why?

Why would Kerry want to oppose the bill?

Surely he should be held accountable for his opposition, but he has not been called. Not even in 2001. Is it our fault that this story is finally starting to see the light of day?

MichaeltheGreat · February 21, 2004, 20:26

Quote:

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Perhaps it's because no one in the media has the balls to call Kerry on this one.

Regardless of China, this bill passed 411-1 in the House. In the Senate Kerry opposed the bill, and caused it to die.

Explain to me how one Senator (from the minority party, so he's not even a committee chairman) can actually kill a bill?

Generically, lots of bills passed by the House die in the Senate, and vice versa, and bills may even in theory be passed by both Houses of Congress and still die, if there are different versions from each House and the Conference Committee can't reconcile them.

Quote:

Now, my question, is why?

Why would Kerry want to oppose the bill?

Read the bill, but again, the US as a general matter of policy doesn't let a little intranational bloodletting get in the way of making deals with cheap Asian labor pools and potentially lucrative markets. The other question might be "why was anyone ever interested in this bill in the first place?" and the answer might well be an ongoing national hardon for Vietnam the same as the US has an ongoing national hardon for Cuba.

Quote:

Surely he should be held accountable for his opposition, but he has not been called. Not even in 2001. Is it our fault that this story is finally starting to see the light of day?

Depends on what his "opposition" really is, and again, it's a bit of a stretch how one minority member of the Senate could "kill" a bill other members were interested in advancing.

Tripledoc · February 21, 2004, 20:30

The problem is that every country have their own little dirty secrets. The percentage of evil as compared to the percentage of good in every nation is the same. Temporary conditions might change, but in the long run, evil will spread all over the lands. The total amount of evil in every generation is spread out across the new generations across the globe in new and ever varying ways. Some is hidden, in fact most of it is, and some is disclosed. The main problem is when evil is weaponized.

Ben Kenobi · February 21, 2004, 20:33

You're the American...

I have to go now so I don't have time to go over the Senate constitution, as to what would be required to press this bill forward over Kerry's delays.

Ben Kenobi · February 21, 2004, 20:37

Mr.Kerry prevented the Vietnam Human Rights Act (HR2833) from coming to a vote in the Senate.

So my terminology was not accurate.

Ben Kenobi · February 21, 2004, 20:40

Quote:

Kerry used his power as Chair of the Senate Foreign Affair sub-committee to prevent the Vietnam human Right Bill from getting to the Senate's floor, despite the please from the Vietnamese American community, and many other concerned citizens.

There we go, MtG.

MichaeltheGreat · February 21, 2004, 20:40

Quote:

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
You're the American...

I have to go now so I don't have time to go over the Senate constitution, as to what would be required to press this bill forward over Kerry's delays.

Actually, it's in the Senate's own rules, and generally, all that is needed is a simple majority committee vote to get a bill on the floor. The other parliamentary tactic is simply to add this bill or it's major substance to another bill that is bound to go through committee. That one is done all the time for pet pork projects.

Given that the sources seem to be repeating from one original source, and seem to be from the "hardon for Hanoi" crowd, I'm not surprised if they have a little creative interpretation of reality.

I'm just curious why anyone is interested in this absent a consistent stance in opposition to human rights abuse by dictatorships, which means China trade apologists need not apply.

chequita guevara · February 21, 2004, 20:56

Green Berets for Human Rights!?!

Capt Dizle · February 21, 2004, 21:49

Quote:

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat

Actually, it's in the Senate's own rules, and generally, all that is needed is a simple majority committee vote to get a bill on the floor. The other parliamentary tactic is simply to add this bill or it's major substance to another bill that is bound to go through committee. That one is done all the time for pet pork projects.

Given that the sources seem to be repeating from one original source, and seem to be from the "hardon for Hanoi" crowd, I'm not surprised if they have a little creative interpretation of reality.

I'm just curious why anyone is interested in this absent a consistent stance in opposition to human rights abuse by dictatorships, which means China trade apologists need not apply.

People are looking for chinks in the candidate's character.

Imran Siddiqui · February 21, 2004, 21:53

Quote:

Explain to me how one Senator (from the minority party, so he's not even a committee chairman) can actually kill a bill?

Indeed I was wondering this myself. Since he can't be chairman there is NO WAY he can prevent this bill from being voted on. Unless he is leading a group of Senators who are filibustering? In that case, the support isn't as overwhelming as thought.

Something in this story stinks, and it ain't Kerry.

GePap · February 21, 2004, 22:43

INterestingly, having gone to the site of the green berets, and having looked at the article from the Boston Globe, it jumped out that Kerry and John McCain were both mentioned as senators trying to stall the bill becuase they see it as an impediment to trade with Vietnam..

Now, note first, of course, how BK and his little articles fails in it's entirety to mention good old John...but maybe because he supports BUsh and is a republican? Nah, that could not be...second, MtG and Imran are correct, in the current senate, unless the senator had the full sopport of the party, no single dem. senator could block anything...

notyoueither · February 22, 2004, 01:29

Quote:

Kerry used his power as Chair of the Senate Foreign Affair sub-committee to prevent the Vietnam human Right Bill from getting to the Senate's floor, despite the please from the Vietnamese American community, and many other concerned citizens.

Is that true, or not?

The Mad Monk · February 22, 2004, 04:33

GePap, Ben is Canadian.

Canadians don't have Republicans.

The Mad Monk · February 22, 2004, 04:41

Maybe McCain isn't mentioned because he's not the one running for President this time around, so it isn't worth broadening the focus. The original article, an opinion piece, was written in August 2002, so it's not like it was written just to snipe Kerry during his election bid.

The Mad Monk · February 22, 2004, 04:50

Quote:

After visiting New Delhi in December 2000, Senator Kerry addressed the Senate on the importance of U.S. relations with India, the world’s largest democracy. He spoke about the importance of U.S. humanitarian assistance to the Indian people in the aftermath of devastating earthquakes in the western state of Gujarat, and he emphasized the great potential for the United States and India to develop a strong, cooperative relation across a broad range of issues.

As the senior Democrat – now Chairman – of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, Senator Kerry continued his leadership on the question of U.S. relations with China and Taiwan. Following up on a major speech on U.S.-China relations in 2000, Senator Kerry addressed the question of U.S. relations with Taiwan. In a speech on the Senate floor, he reiterated the importance of the long-standing U.S. “one China” policy to maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait. While emphasizing the U.S. national interest in preserving democracy in Taiwan, he outlined the dangers of abandoning the strategic ambiguity that serves both to deter a cross-Strait attack by China as well as a precipitous declaration of independence by Taiwan that could provoke a war.

http://kerry.senate.gov/text/congress/foreign.html

It appears he was chairman of the appropriate sub-committee in December 2000, which implies that continued through 2001; still looking, though.

Dis · February 22, 2004, 04:56

Kerry is starting to make me sick. This guy has some serious problems. His voting record is horrible. This guy is the worst politician. I almost wish Howard Dean had won. I'm still rooting for Edwards to pull a miracle- although this guy is just as bad. He made a living suing people and companies with "junk science".

*sigh* But I hate George Bush.

What should I do?