(Nhan dan newspaper): The US State Department has once again repeated a trite action, distorting the real human rights situation and interfering into the internal affairs of over one hundred independent and sovereign countries in the world.

On February 28, the US State Department released the so-called report entitled "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" to be submitted to the Congress.

This 28th edition of the Country Reports says that the human rights, freedom and democracy are being violated in 196 countries, including 39 countries in the Asia-Pacific region namely the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and others.

Meanwhile, the US has itself excluded from the list, ignoring the existence of human rights violations in their own country, especially the world-protested abuses carried out by the US soldiers against the Iraqi prisoners.

A question must be raised that in what capability can the US State Department judge other nations? Are there any governments or people asking them to carry out such unacceptable actions?

Regarding Vietnam, while acknowledging positive developments in Vietnam such as economic reform, people's improved living standards and significantly decreased poverty, the US State Department's report still maintains a biased assessment on Vietnam's human right situation.

It writes: "The Government's human rights record remained poor, and it continued to commit serious abuses. The Government continued to deny citizens the right to change their government." It also extracts some incredible sources as saying that the country's security forces were responsible for the disappearances of persons during the year, detention of citizens and foreign visitors, including detention for expression of political and religious views. It adds that the Vietnamese Government restricted citizens' privacy rights, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association, increased efforts to monitor and control citizen's access and use of the Internet. It also said that the security forces' continued the enforcement of restrictions on public gatherings and travel in some parts of the country, particularly in the central region and Central Highlands region. It even states that the Government restricted freedom of religion and prohibited the operation of unregistered religious organisations and that discrimination against some ethnic minorities continued to be a problem.

In order to prove the above biased statements, the reports produced the false events, names and circumstances so as to cheat those lacking actual information about Vietnam or those not having had the chance to visit the country.

However, their fabrications can not deceive other governments and people, including many in the US who have arrived in Vietnam as tourists or businesspeople because they have enough real information about the country at the present time. The world public has acknowledged that Vietnam is a safe and attractive destination. More and more businesses and organisations are coming to Vietnam for long-term work. They have expressed great satisfaction in being able to operate in Vietnam. The number of overseas Vietnamese, even in industrial countries, returning to their homeland to establish a business or to live is increasing due to the advantages of high interest, safety and comfortable living environment.

Vietnam and the US normalised diplomatic ties and mutual co-operation in many fields ten years ago. Both sides have exchanged visits of delegations from different levels and sectors aimed at boosting mutual understanding and co-operation for mutual development. However, people and conscious politicians in the US are believed not to accept the biased report created by the US State Department regarding the situation of human rights in Vietnam.

The renovation policy initiated by the Communist Party of Vietnam has so far received an active response and support from the people. The renovation process has brought about rapid development and prosperity for the country, improved significantly the spiritual and material life for people of 54 groups in Vietnam and is highly valued by friends in the region and the world. Vietnam is still in the process of national reconstruction and development to heal the prolonged and terrible consequences of the wars caused by the foreign aggressors. Difficulties remain, however the Vietnamese Party and State always show the determination to create a happier life for all citizens and help the people enjoy improvements in their human rights. This is to serve the realisation of a target that every Vietnamese is able to live in a stable, peaceful, free, democratic and lawful society.

It is undeniable that the achievements made in the renovation process in the past 20 years are of great importance and prove to be a landmark in the country's history.

Vietnam's consistent policy is to respect and protect freedom of religion and belief and freedom of non-religion and non-belief of its citizens. All religions whose organisations have principles, purposes, and orientations and organising structures in line with Vietnam's laws are allowed to operate in the country. Any foreigners staying in Vietnam during the early days of this New Year can find the warm and comfortable atmosphere in festivals and religious activities.

Every nation has its own law and certain regulations to ensure national development, security and social order. Therefore, it is no surprise and nor is it an illegal practice when punishments are meted against those who violate the law. In Vietnam, there is neither religious repression nor racial discrimination. There is nobody detained for having different political opinions. Like other countries, in Vietnam those who break the law or use religion as a mask to cause social disorder and insecurity will be punished under Vietnam's law.

The so-called 2004 Human Rights Report prepared by the US State Department will suffer strong protest and criticism from the world public because it reveals the attitude of superiority as well as the continued attempt to interfere into others' internal affairs, thus grossly violating their independence and the right to self-determination. Such out-of-date action of the US State Department which violates international law can harm the expansion of co-operative ties between Vietnam and the US. That is why the spokesman of the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Dung stated on March 1 that "We absolutely reject these wrongful assessments in the US State Department's 2004 Human Rights Report."/.