Rep. Sanchez Plans to Meet With 2 Dissidents in Vietnam

While President Clinton’s historic visit to Vietnam has been carefully planned to avoid controversy, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, accompanying him, intends to meet with two high-profile Vietnamese dissidents.

One of six members of Congress on the four-day trip, Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) represents the largest Vietnamese community in the United States. She has emphasized human rights and refugee issues during her four years in Congress.

The trip, which begins today, is the first peacetime visit by an American president to Vietnam. President Nixon visited South Vietnam in 1969, at the height of the Vietnam War.

Sanchez plans to meet with the Venerable Thich Quang Do, secretary-general of the banned United Buddhist Church of Vietnam, who has protested government interference in religion, and Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, a dissident released from jail in September 1998 who remains under police surveillance.

Sanchez met with both men in March 1999 when she was part of a congressional delegation visiting Vietnam to discuss human rights, refugee issues and a full accounting for U.S. servicemen still listed as missing in action.

The White House was notified well in advance about the planned meetings, which will take place in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, Sanchez press spokeswoman Sarah Anderson said Wednesday. A year ago, Sanchez joined 29 members of Congress in nominating Do for the Nobel Peace Prize.

“The White House is very aware she’s meeting with these folks, and it’s not a problem,” Anderson said.

Sanchez has spoken several times on the House floor, condemning the lack of religious freedom in Vietnam.