Amended in Assembly August 29, 2016

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 165

Introduced by Senator Nguyen

August 16, 2016

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 165—Relative to the Republic of Vietnam Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 165, as amended, Nguyen. Republic of Vietnam Month.

This measure proclaims the month of October 2016 as begin delete the end delete Republic of Vietnam Month, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the first Constitution of the Republic of Vietnam, in honor of the lives lost for freedom and democracy during the Vietnam War, and in recognition of the positive contributions of Vietnamese Americans to the State of California.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The people of the Republic of Vietnam (South
Vietnam) and the United States found common ground in their
shared principles of democracy and individual liberties, coming
together to valiantly defend these tenets against communism; and

WHEREAS, October 2016 marks the 60th anniversary of the
adoption of the first Constitution of the Republic of Vietnam,
which established that nation’s first democracy; and

WHEREAS, Until the Fall of Saigon in 1975, the government
of the Republic of Vietnam sought to defend the lives, freedom,
and property of its people and was at the forefront of the fight for
democracy in Southeast Asia; and

WHEREAS, In an effort to protect the democratic government
of the Republic of Vietnam from socialist control, the United
States, Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, South Korea,
Taiwan, and Thailand fought vigorously to aid the Republic of
Vietnam in their fight against communism; and

WHEREAS, Despite a valiant effort from countries around the
world, Saigon fell, compelling nearly three million Vietnamese to
flee the country in search of freedom and refuge in neighboring
countries with approximately half of these individuals perishing
at sea before reaching a safe haven; and

WHEREAS, The United States welcomed many Vietnamese
refugees following the collapse of the Republic of Vietnam, and
today, the State of California is home to more than 500,000
Vietnamese Americans that enrich the social, cultural, and
economic fabric of our state through their significant contributions
to the fields of education, business, politics, arts, science, and
technology; and

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WHEREAS, Today, the Vietnamese American community
throughout California and the United States remains vigilant of
the state of affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam due to their
continuous infringement upon the liberties of its people,
specifically in the areas of child labor, human trafficking, religious
and political persecution, suppression of the press, unlawful
deprivation of life, forced disappearances, and land seizures; and

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WHEREAS, Vietnamese American communities throughout
California and the United States continue to put pressure on the
government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with the hope
of bringing freedom and democracy to the people of Vietnam,
improving the quality of life of the veterans and disabled veterans
of the Army of Republic of Vietnam and drawing attention to the
plight of the wives of the fallen soldiers who continue to suffer;
and

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WHEREAS, The United States Department of State’s 2014
edition of the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for
Vietnam estimates 125 political detainees are being held, and the
International Labor Rights Forum reports that mistreatment has
continued at reeducation centers, including forcing detainees to
produce goods for private companies; and

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WHEREAS, Human rights, religious freedom, democracy, and
protection against threats of aggression are important concerns
of Vietnamese Americans and Vietnamese communities worldwide
stemming from human rights abuses that continue to occur in
Vietnam in the following areas, among others, child labor, human
trafficking, religious and political persecution, suppression of the
press, unlawful deprivation of life, forced disappearances, and
land seizure; and

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WHEREAS, We must teach our children and future generations
important lessons from the Vietnam War and the continuing
situation in Vietnam, including how the plight of the Vietnamese
refugees following the end of the war serves as a powerful example
of the values of freedom and democracy and how we can improve
the quality of life of the veterans and disabled veterans of the Army
of the Republic of Vietnam and draw attention to the plight of the
wives of the fallen soldiers who continue to suffer; and

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WHEREAS, For their brave resolution to defend freedom around
the world, Republic of Vietnam Month seeks to recognize the
sacrifice of the more than 58,000 American service members who
lost their lives to defend democracy in Vietnam, as well as the
more than one million people, including service members,
supporting personnel, and their families, who made great sacrifices
and contributions to the fight for freedom; and

WHEREAS, Republic of Vietnam Month also honors the
members of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and government
officials, many of whom perished or were captured and held in
communist labor camps where they suffered unspeakable abuses,
as well as to recognize the sacrifice of their families, especially
the wives who displayed admirable courage in the face of tragedy;
and

WHEREAS, To honor the great sacrifices made in the fight for
democracy, communities throughout California will dedicate the
month of October as a time to reflect on principles of freedom and
democracy and the sacrifices that have been made towards the
attainment of these ideals, as well as to commemorate the
anniversary of the first democracy of the Republic of Vietnam and
to thank the millions of veterans around the world who fought
during the Vietnam War; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the
month of October 2016 as begin delete the end delete Republic of Vietnam Month, in
commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the first
Constitution of the Republic of Vietnam, in honor of the lives lost
for freedom and democracy during the Vietnam War, and in
recognition of the positive contributions of Vietnamese Americans
to the State of California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.