(VOVworld) - The US House of Representatives yesterday adopted the Vietnam Human Rights Act. But the bill was opposed by US congressman Eni Faleomavaega.

US congressman Eni Faleomavaega

The bill “HR. 1410” calls on the US government to cut non-charitable aid to Vietnam for what is called “human rights promotion” in the country. Eni Faleomavaega, a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, talks to a VOV correspondent. “My colleagues in the congress feel that the principles of human rights have not been practiced by the Vietnamese government. I don’t agree. I just want to say that with all the conditions and problems Vietnam is facing in a developing country in the Asian region, they have done the best they can in curtain circumstances.”

Faleomavaega comments on approach to human rights issues: “I don’t agree with how some of my colleagues perceive human rights, in terms of how each country practices it, according to the values and the principles that they adhere to in their culture. I feel that the government of Vietnam is doing its best. I’m in reckon of opposing the action taken by my colleagues in criticizing human rights record of Vietnam for the simple reason that I don’t think the other side of the story is properly told”.

Congressman Faleomavaega said the human rights bill goes against the US administration’s efforts to strengthen ties with Vietnam in recent years. The HR.1410 will be passed on to the Senate for approval.  So far, no human rights bills on Vietnam have been adopted by the US Senate.

Nhat Quynh – VOV correspondent in the US