Posted on 12/27/2004 5:36:00 AM PST by miltonim
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And so it continues:
Not only the Democrats are celebrating
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737045/posts
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And so it continues:
Democrats weigh new power in Senate. BUSH's judicial nominees will face special scrutiny
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737125/posts
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And so it continues:
M15 Chief: Terror threat growing
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737136/posts
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bump
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And now,
from out of the mouths of Babes,
Babes in Freedom,
comes:
Rumania Vows Not to 'Abandon' Iraq
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737155/posts
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BUMP, BUMP, BUMP.
NEVER FORGET.
God bless our heroes who gave it all and our heroes we can still honor while they're alive.
June 14, 2006
Vietnamese officials continue to force Montagnard Christians to sign pledges renouncing their religion, despite passage of new regulations last year banning such practices. Authorities in some areas restrict freedom of movement between villages – in particular for religious purposes not authorized by the government – and ban Christian gatherings in many areas unless they are presided over by officially recognized pastors.
More worrisome, the Vietnamese government persists in criminalizing peaceful dissent, unsanctioned religious activity and efforts to seek sanctuary in Cambodia, by arresting and imprisoning Montagnards who engage in those activities. The most harshly treated are evangelical Christians who belong to independent or unregistered house churches and supporters of a non-violent movement for the protection of, and greater control over, ancestral lands.
More than 350 Montagnards have been sentenced to prison since 2001, largely for peaceful political or religious activities. Most have been charged under Vietnam’s Penal Code with vaguely worded national security crimes. These include “undermining the unity policy,” “disrupting security” and “causing public disorder”. More than 60 Montagnards have been imprisoned after being forcibly returned from Cambodia, where they were seeking asylum.
The arrests are ongoing: during 2005 alone, at least 142 people – some of whom had been in pre-trial detention for as much as a year – were sentenced to prison terms of up to 17 years. This is more than double the number imprisoned during the previous year. At least 30 of those sentenced in 2005 had been arrested in Cambodia or near the border areas, whilst trying to seek asylum. They were apprehended by Cambodian police and turned over to Vietnamese authorities without having a chance to make an asylum claim with UNHCR. The report includes an annex listing Central Highland prisoners.
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/06/14/vietna13542.htm
I got lucky, never was shot at."
I got lucky too.
Was shot down, out in the boonies, in a OH58A and only got hit with a mosquito.
In the full HRW report, it goes into a lot of these details. Most interesting is the charges brought against these individuals. They are along the lines of, "Disturbing national security and breaking national unity", "Underming national security, organizing demonstrations, inciting refugees to flee", "Causing security and political instability", and other similar charges. I do not wish to get into the merit of these charges or defend the Vietnamese government, but there is clearly more going on than the simple prohibition of Christianity that many on here want to believe.
There is a very strong revolution going on in Vietnam and that is capitalism. The days of the 'socialist' government of Vietnam are numbered and soon, hopefully, there will not be a need for this type of discussion. The only discussion will be how to properly put on trial those who were responsible for the real re-education camps of the 1970s and early 1980s.
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The Communist Vietnamese have always coveted economic control over the Montagnards' fertile Central Highlands of the Formerly Free South Vietnam.
Highly profitable Coffee Bean production being the 1st of the money reasons for doing so =
A purpose-led reduction in Montagnard population.
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...U.S. must prove its staying power (Iraq test of U.S. seriousness Alert...)
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737217/posts
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"The only discussion will be how to properly put on trial those who were responsible for the real re-education camps of the 1970s and early 1980s."
There's also going to be an interesting discussion about the return of properties siezed by the Communists, particularly in the south. I know that many Viet Khieu talk about suing the government for return of family property once WTO has settled in (many still have their deeds and titles).
But that's just a small part of a larger problem surrounding land-use, title registrations, leaseholds, etc. that the government will eventually have to face.
OH58, huh.
No disrespect intended, but, we (on the ground) used to think OH58 jockeys were as crazy as loons.
Flying at tree top level to deliberately draw fire revealing enemy positions so the big boys (behind) could puff see 'em *&* puff 'em.
Defines the very word, "courage". ;^)
"...and only got hit with a mosquito."
Thank God.
A belated Happy Veterans Day.
...2u2.
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Aren't there Vietnamese demonstrators already demonstrating in front of Communist Vietnam's Government Buildings...
...calling for their lands to be given back, lands that were taken from them after the 1975 Fall of Saigon..?
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Start U.S. Iraq withdrawal in 4-6 months: Democrats
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737294/posts
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Y'know seems to me I heard our president say -- following the "thumping" -- *one* of the most important items he intended seeing through was seeing to it Vietnam gets on the WTO, or some such.
If my ears heard correct he said he'd be going to Vietnam for an official state visit, also.
In light of this thread, thousands of veterans who died in Vietnam, the 10s of thousands of Vietnamese refugees who fled to pursue their liberty, and without unjustly bashing *anyone* for *anything*??
I'm *compelled* to ask myself one thing & one thing, only.
...what's wrong with that *picture*?
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Got's to do it, Landru, I just got's to do it, no matter what ..no matter the sacrifices.
'Cause we sure didn't have this marvelous internet & Freerepublc.com to inject some CLARITY with,
...into the world of others when I came back from the 1st Major Battles fought for the Freedom of others during the Vietnam War.
As you are well aware (and better than most), that same Battle for Freedom continues on today, only now it's our's that's at stake right here at home. Battles to be fought again, no matter the sacrifices to be made..?
You bet Mrs. Ronnie knows.
See http://www.lzxray.com/Ronnie3.jpg
(Picture of things sacrificed while fighting the good fight for CLARITY on behalf of the Freedom of others)
PS:
President BUSH IS visiting Communist Vietnam this week.
PSS:
Enslaved Vietnamese have been courageously demonstrating lately in front of Communist Government buildings in Vietnam asking that their lands and houses be returned to them ..taken from them after the 1975 Fall of Saigon.
PSS:
Just announced on the FoX News Channel:
A visiting Vietnamese-American woman, that was jailed without charges in Communist Vietnam over a year ago, was just convicted for terrorism there. (A Terrorist in Vietnam is defined as anyone who seeks Regime Change). She was flown out back to Florida, USA, today before Presient BUSH's arrival in Communist Vietnam.
Tears for Fears..?
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And so it continues...
Rep. JOHN MURTHA (D) has been calling for the withdrawal of all our troops from Iraq way back to a "Staging Area" on the island of...
...OKINAWA, JAPAN..!!!
PELOSI backs MURTHA for Majority Leader
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737497/posts
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And so it continues...
The Dems Decoded
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738119/posts
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And so it continues...
LEVIN vows to probe 'abuse' of renditions
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738140/posts
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