Human rights must be a priority as U.S. talks trade with Vietnam

AS THE United States has negotiated with Vietnam over a trade deal intended to elevate the rule of law, the rule of law has been steadily eroding inside Vietnam. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, who is scheduled to visit the country this weekend, can no longer brush aside this fundamental contradiction in policy.

Nguyen Thi Tram highlighted the contradiction during a visit to Washington this week. Two of her sons, Le Quoc Quan and Le Dinh Quan, have been sentenced to prison for peaceful advocacy of democracy and free speech. Now a niece has been a12/14：Human rights must be a priority as U.S. talks trade with Vietnam(washingtonpost)rrested as well, Ms. Nguyen told us, and her entire family has been assessed ruinous fines. Her sons have been beaten and held in solitary confinement; she has not been allowed to visit one of them since his detention a year ago.

(2013-12-14/washingtonpost)