Vietnam's religious policy status delayed

The U.S. State Department has requested Congress allow it more time to finalize the required actions under the International Religious Freedom Act. This would apply to Vietnam as it was one of three countries designated last September as a "Country of Particular Concern" for its poor religious policy (Eritrea and Saudi Arabia being the other two nations). Under this act, the Bush administration was required to impose some kind of sanctions by today (March 15) if Vietnam was judged not to have made significant improvement in this area. A senior U.S. diplomat said important progress has been made with Vietnam, noting the release of some high profile religious prisoners, the visit last week of U.S. ambassador-at-large for religious freedom John Hanford; and the new directive that allows Protestant house churches to carry out their worship in the Central Highlands, if they cut ties with FULRO. .(U.S. State Dept. daily press briefing, March 15; VOA news March 15)