Bill Text: CA AJR41 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Vietnam: arms embargo.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - Died at Desk. [AJR41 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AJR41-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AJR 41 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Kim
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Chang)
(Principal coauthor: Senator Nguyen)
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Chu)
MAY 26, 2016
Relative to Vietnam.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 41, as introduced, Kim. 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.
Fiscal committee: no.
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.
