Veit_Thuy:
You provided a link to the State Dept for 2003, try this from 2004:
You Are In: USINFO > Topics > Human Rights > International Religious Freedom
Commission Releases Report on Religious Freedom
Recommends listing six additional "countries of particular concern"
The Commission on International Religious Freedom, releasing its annual report May 12, recommended that 11 nations be designated "countries of particular concern" (CPC) for their curtailment or denial of religious freedom.
In addition to the five countries currently listed by the U.S. State Department as CPCs -- Burma, China, North Korea, Iran, and Sudan -- the committee asked Secretary of State Colin Powell to add six additional countries -- Eritrea, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and Vietnam -- to the list.
According to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA), those countries that meet the statutory criteria in that act must be designated by the secretary of state as CPCs.
However, "the simple designation by the U.S. government of a severe violator of religious freedom as a CPC is not sufficient action," the report said. "The policy of the United States also must be to take active steps in response to those countries deemed to be particularly egregious religious freedom violators."
In addition to CPC designations, the commission made several recommendations regarding religious freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq where, according to the report, "the United States has a particular responsibility to ensure that the newly formed governments are functioning democracies that protect human rights, including religious freedom." The report specifically discusses the necessity of protecting freedoms of thought, conscious and religion in the newly developed constitutions of those nations.
The Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to make recommendations on issues of religious freedom to the president, secretary of state and Congress.
For the complete report see
http://www.uscirf.gov/reports/12May04/finalReport.php3
Annual Report of the United States Commission
on International Religious Freedom
May 2004
(End of report)
Killjoy: You wanted am officially non religious entity to verify anti-religious activity in Vietnam. This report calls Vietnam to be "particularly egregious religious freedom violators."
Finally in regard to the pictures shown in the original entry on Re-Education in Vietnam: Picture #2 - The arms are pulled up behind them in an elevated position. It has been a long time but I recall the returning POWs discussing the North Vietnamese torturing them with the "Rope Trick" which involoved pulling the arms back and up with ropes or chains in some fashion. It recalled this means of torture the moment I saw the picture though it may have varied from that of the Hanoi Hilton era. Realize that if the person pictured faints or becomes unable to stand the pressure on the arms and the shoulder joints would be excruciating and would likely cause the arm to leave the shoulder socket.