Name changing for couples not a straight line

In October 2008, racing against California's gay marriage ban, Chloe and Frankie Frankeny wed legally in San Francisco with one chore already done: Chloe had taken her wife's name two years before.

"It was the only way we had to fit into a mainstream role that was understandable to anybody," said Chloe, managing editor of a fashion website. "When I told my father I was taking Frankie's name he was sort of blown away because I definitely consider myself a feminist."

With a battle over the state's ban on gay marriage possibly headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, it's likely more same-sex couples will do the same. For the Frankenys, the name switch couldn't magically grant all the marriage benefits denied same-sex couples when compared to one man, one wife, but it was one more way to express their union. It's a symbol rendered even stronger now that legal gay marriages are on hold in California, and for partners who've never had the option.

Logistically, a name-change for gay couples isn't always as simple as trotting out a marriage certificate, the proof most required in heterosexual marriage. Emotionally, the journey is about love, commitment - and a way to ease anxiety over being misunderstood as non-relatives in emergencies or considered less-than as parents.

Kirsten Palladino, who runs the online gay wedding 'zine Equally Wed, shed Ott for the surname of her partner, Maria, last year without benefit of a state-sanctioned union in Georgia. She's seeing more couples go to court for name changes, settling on hyphenation or one partner's surname over the other.

"We have grown stronger and are speaking out for ourselves in this way," said Palladino, 32. "There's nothing stopping us from taking each other's names, even if we can't get a marriage certificate."

After a five-year courtship, the Palladinos had a wedding at an antebellum mansion in Decatur, Ga. Kirsten became a Palladino after running a newspaper announcement of her intentions once a week for four weeks and appearing before a judge, just as people going through a formal name change for reasons other than marriage must do.

"I was nervous. I didn't know how the judge would feel, but he was great. Personally, I had to deal with some identity issues after, but becoming a family unit with my wife trumped anything else for me," she said.

College sweethearts Kathryn and Heather Kraft of Newton, Mass., just celebrated 12 years together and have a new baby. They had a church wedding five years ago in white gowns with 10 bridesmaids after obtaining a marriage license under their state's gay marriage law.

Whose name did they choose? Kathryn said her Kraft over Heather's Cole "because we're very close to my family and wanted to add to that family in a noticeable way." They had considered combining names into a new one that "represented both of our ancestry, but in the end we're very traditional people." Cole is now a middle name for the entire family, including baby Esther.

Making the switch with a legal marriage certificate was no trouble for Heather, until she tried to get a U.S. passport ahead of a trip to Europe. "We were shocked when Heather's application was denied," said her 32-year-old partner, a family therapist. "The passport office would not recognize our marriage certificate as proof and insisted that she had to go in front of a judge to have a court-ordered name change."

After six months, she was issued a "known as" passport identifying her by both names. "It's a small thing that isn't noticeable when you look at her passport, but the process was long and an unnecessary reminder that things aren't exactly equal," Kathryn said.

Jason and Anthony Cline committed to each other in 2001 during a hotel ceremony in their native Indiana, where gay marriage is outlawed. They thought about heading to a state where their union would be legal but decided not to bother knowing they'd return home to suburban Indianapolis without that recognition.

Jason, 33, legally changed his name, going through a newspaper notification process and enduring questions from a judge as Palladino did.

'The process seemed cold but it helped prove our relationship to our friends and family that maybe weren't as advanced in their thinking on the topic. It helped solidify our relationship to the people that we knew and to the world," he said. "It starts a conversation. It tells a story."

Chloe Frankeny sees other practical outcomes to changing her name, including proof of family status in case of a medical crisis.

"With the same last name we could say we were sisters," she said. "We've all heard stories of partners kept apart in emergency rooms. That was a precaution we wanted to take."

From nearly 80 percent to 95 percent of heterosexual couples marrying for the first time legally adjust their names as the age of the average bride has risen to about 27 over the last 20 years, according to research. Professional identity before marriage motivates others - in same-sex and hetero couples alike - to keep their original names informally or incorporate them as middle names.

Elisa Hebert, 32, wasn't attached to her surname before she traveled with partner Megan from their home outside Denver, Colo., to Rehoboth, Mass., a plus since most of their friends and family are from New England. Back home, Elisa appeared in court to complete her legal name change before a judge managing a roomful of ti cked-off parents and their kids hauled in for truancy. "I felt like a 12-year-old who was in trouble," she said.

Actor and writer Marcos Mateo Ochoa, 29, of Los Angeles chose to hyphenate instead. He goes by Cermak-Ochoa after marrying partner Frank Cermak on Oct. 4, 2008, a union legally recognized in California with 1 8,000 other samesex marriages there before voters approved Proposition 8 and ended the practice. He plans to make the name switch legal once the court case is resolved.

"We want to identify ourselves as being united, but with California being so flip-floppy on this, it's just a matter of when we go about the process," Ochoa said. "Is this going to be another obstacle, another hurdle for us to go through?"

[Sidebar]

Actor and writer Marcos Mateo Ochoa, 29, of Los Angeles chose to hyphenate instead* He goes by Cermak-Ochoa after marrying partner Frank Cermak on Oct. 4, 2008, a union legally recognized in California with 18,000 other same-sex marriages there before voters approved Proposition 8 and ended the practice* He plans to make the name switch legal once the court case is resolved.

U. S. indicts CTA official // Medley, 7 others named on fraud, bribery charges

Veteran CTA Board member Howard C. Medley Sr. and seven othershave been indicted on bribery and fraud charges stemming from a $38million CTA diesel oil contract.

The 41-count indictment accuses Brian Flisk, chairman ofMetropolitan Petroleum Co., of making a $22,500 payoff to Medley todeflect CTA Board and staff criticism of Flisk's firm forirregularities in its contract performance.

The colorful, controversial CTA Board member, who is 61, toldreporters at a board meeting Wednesday that he had taken no bribefrom Flisk and barely knew him.

"I can take an oath on my grandbaby," Medley said, "that I havenever taken any money from anybody in any way, shape, form or fashion. . . under any kind of crooked deal . . . that I know anythingabout.

"It is possible that you don't know laws, but God knows I checkwith lawyers before I do anything." He added that he had never hadany dealings with Flisk except to vote on Metropolitan contracts.

Two former CTA employees, accounts payable clerk Benjamin Gay,41, and his superior, Anthony Scardina, 48, were charged with taking$18,450 in bribes from Flisk to help arrange $624,000 in overpaymentsto Metropolitan and to deprive the transit agency of additionalhundreds of thousands of dollars in discounts.

Gay and Scardina were fired last July, and Metropolitan went outof business shortly after the Chicago Sun-Times publicized theoverpayments.

The paper revealed last month that Gay had been receiving secretpayments from Metropolitan, disguised as salary for a purportedpart-time job with a Metropolitan affiliate. Gay is cooperating inthe federal investigation.

U.S. Attorney Anton R. Valukas, who announced the indictmentsWednesday, praised the Sun-Times for its disclosures in the case.

Also accused of fraud and conspiracy in the 68-page indictment -handed up Tuesday but sealed until Wednesday - are Jerry Coppola, 63,a former president of Metropolitan; Ronald Buzil, 38, the firm'svice president and controller, and Kathleen Mitropoulos, 48,Metropolitan's office manager. Another employee, Lawrence Sands, 62,was accused of lying to the FBI during the inquiry. Company also indicted

Metropolitan was indicted as a corporation on charges thatFlisk, 43, Coppola, Buzil and Mitropoulos, on behalf of the firm,also defrauded the company's chief creditor, Heller FinancialServices, of $5.6 million in loans.

The indictment seeks forfeiture by the defendants of allproceeds from those loans and from the $38.2 million diesel oilcontract, which was handed to Metropolitan in September, 1986, aftera lower bidder was disqualified on a rarely used technicality.

Nearly $20 million was paid out under the contract beforeMetropolitan folded last July.

Valukas told a press conference the alleged bribe to Medley camein April, 1987, as a phony "finder's fee" purportedly paid forhelping arrange the sale by Metropolitan of a warehouse at 4800 S.Central. Deception charged

To disguise the tie to Flisk, Valukas said, the money wasfunneled through Medley's accountant, John Wilson. Medley was alsocharged with lying about the transaction when questioned in Februarybefore a federal grand jury.

The indictment says Medley was promised $25,000 but got only$22,500.

Valukas said Medley twice tried to persuade another board member- who sources later identified as lawyer Natalia Delgado - to ignorea CTA audit that accused Metropolitan of delivering watered-downfuel, running a minority-contractor scam and trying to cheat the CTAout of an 11-cent-a-gallon "prompt payment" discount.

Delgado's purchasing and sales committee studied the charges butrecommended no action against Metropolitan.

Flisk, a real estate operator, was once branded a slumlord andwas fired as a special deputy sheriff six years ago after brandishinga revolver during a tenant dispute. Metropolitan was indicted last May on charges of cheating the stateout of more than $500,000 in sales taxes.

Tuesday's indictment also charges him with obstruction ofjustice for allegedly trying to persuade Gay and Buzil - the latteris cooperating in the investigation - to lie to authorities.

Flisk's attorney, Jeffrey Cole, said Assistant U.S. Attorney IraRafelson has told him he will seek a $400,000 cash bond when Flisksurrenders today. Cole said the maneuver "is a perversion of baillaws . . . to keep Flisk in jail."

The indictment charges that Gay accepted $14,200 from Flisk andthat Scardina received $4,250 plus "merchandise," which included awasher, dryer and gasoline. Scardina was also charged with lying tothe FBI about the gifts.

Tuesday's indictment is the second major corruption charge tohit the beleaguered transit authority within six months.

Last fall former chief administrative officer Larry Pianto wascharged with rigging $420,000 worth of contracts for a tire supplier,in return for $10,000 in bribes. Pianto pleaded guilty last month.

Other no-bid contracts valued at more than $10 million also areunder federal scrutiny.

Fran Spielman contributed to this story.

US Open champ Lucas Glover commits to Buick Open

Newly crowned U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover is among the golfers committed to play the 2009 Buick Open in Michigan.

Organizers said Tuesday that Glover, defending Buick Open champion Kenny Perry and former winners Justin Leonard, Jim Furyk, Scott Verplank, Tom Pernice Jr. and Brad Faxon will compete at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club near Flint.

The Buick Open is scheduled for July 27 to Aug. 2. The purse is $5.1 million, tying 2008's record, and first prize is $918,000. John Daly and Corey Pavin have also committed to play.

LA jury convicts Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano in racketeering scheme

A Hollywood private investigator was convicted of federal racketeering and other charges for digging up dirt for his well-heeled clients to use in lawsuits, divorces and business disputes against the rich and famous.

Anthony Pellicano, 64, was accused of wiretapping stars such as Sylvester Stallone and running the names of others, such as comedians Garry Shandling and Kevin Nealon, through law enforcement databases to help clients in legal and other disputes.

Pellicano was found guilty Thursday of all but one of the 77 counts against him. He looked at the judge with his arms crossed and didn't react when verdicts were read.

"We went by the evidence," said Terri Winbush, forewoman of the 12-member jury. "There was a lot of evidence."

The jury found him guilty of racketeering and racketeering conspiracy, along with wiretapping, wire fraud, identity theft, conspiracy to intercept or use wire communications and manufacture or possession of a wiretapping device. He was acquitted of a charge of unauthorized computer access.

The racketeering counts each carry a maximum of 20 years in prison, while most of the other counts have five-year maximum sentences. Sentencing was set for Sept. 24, and U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer ordered Pellicano to remain in custody.

The jury also found four co-defendants guilty of a variety of charges.

The indictment charging Pellicano and his supporting cast in February 2006 had Hollywood buzzing with speculation about who might be ensnared in the investigation and what secrets might be revealed.

Fourteen people were charged and seven, including film director John McTiernan and former Hollywood Records president Robert Pfeifer, have pleaded guilty to charges including perjury and conspiracy.

But the biggest power brokers with links to Pellicano, such as famed entertainment attorney Bert Fields, Paramount studio head Brad Grey and one-time superagent Michael Ovitz, insisted they did not know about his methods and were not charged.

Pellicano starred in the real-time court drama as a tough-talking gumshoe who valued loyalty and secrecy as necessary virtues in his profession. He also acted as his own attorney but called only one witness and rarely raised objections.

The private eye decided against taking the stand to defend himself and kept true to his promise that he wouldn't betray the trust of his clients.

A number of dramas played out during the trial and cast a spotlight on the seamy side of Hollywood, detailing death threats, offers of murder and extramarital affairs.

Jurors watched as an uncomfortable Chris Rock testified about a model he believed was trying to shake him down. They saw a confounded Shandling study his name on a police records audit and a stoic Ovitz recount how he had hired Pellicano to find the source of negative news stories about a company he was selling.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Saunders urged jurors not to get caught up in the glitz of the case.

"This case is about corruption, about cheating, greed, arrogance and the perversion of the justice system. It just happened to take place in Hollywood," the prosecutor said.

During his closing argument, Pellicano insisted he shared no information with colleagues and said he alone was responsible for the investigations, although he did not elaborate.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors portrayed Pellicano as a well-connected thug who ran a lucrative business by charging clients a nonrefundable retainer fee that started at $25,000.

They played a number of profanity-laced recordings made by Pellicano while he spoke with clients, including one with Rock, who hired the private eye to investigate a model who demanded money after claiming she was pregnant with his baby.

Attorneys for Pellicano's co-defendants also pleaded ignorance and tried to distance their clients from Pellicano, painting him as ultra-secretive.

Co-defendants Mark Arneson, a former Los Angeles police sergeant, and former telephone company worker Rayford Earl Turner were also convicted Thursday of racketeering and racketeering conspiracy. Abner Nicherie, a Pellicano client, was convicted of aiding and abetting a wiretap.

Kevin Kachikian, a software designer who created a wiretapping program, was convicted of conspiracy to wiretap and manufacturing or possession of a wiretap device. He was acquitted of nine wiretapping counts.

___

Associated Press writer Thomas Watkins contributed to this report.

VIET TAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBER HOANG TESTIFIES ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS IN VIETNAM BEFORE HOUSE PANEL

The House Foreign Affairs Committee issued the following testimony from a subcommittee hearing:

Statement by Duy (Dan) HoangCentral Committee Member, Viet Tan

Testimony before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight

"Human Rights Concerns in Vietnam":

Dear Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Thank you for the invitation to testify today. It is encouraging to see such strong bipartisan support for human rights in Vietnam.

You have heard from the other witnesses how the Hanoi government launched a crackdown after getting what it wanted: admission to the WTO, PNTR status, and removal from the CPC list for religious freedom violators.

I will focus my testimony on how the U.S. Congress can help defend human rights and promote an open society in Vietnam. I would like to offer five recommendations.

Recommendation #1: Send the Vietnam Human Rights Act to President Bush for his signature

On September 18, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Vietnam Human Rights Act (H.R.3096). This result was warmly welcomed by democracy activists living in Vietnam. In a letter thanking the House, the Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Vietnam stated:

"The fraternal and economic relationship between Vietnam and the United States is only sustainable and benefiting the peoples of the two countries when Vietnam is truly a democratic nation where human rights are respected."

Please urge colleagues in the Senate to support this important legislation. If necessary, provisions from H.R.3096 could be attached to other bills during the 110th Congress so that the substance of the Vietnam Human Rights Act is enacted by both chambers.

Recommendation #2: Adopt a voice of conscience

A well-known novelist and mother of two young children, Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, sits in jail for helping to organize peaceful protests against government land grabs and corruption. Held without trial, she suffers from diabetes. Her family has not been allowed to visit.

A young lawyer named Le Thi Cong Nhan is serving a prison sentence for "propaganda against the socialist government" and participating in an unsanctioned political party.

Another lawyer and former NED fellow, Le Quoc Quan, was arrested in March right after returning to Vietnam. He was released in advance of the president of communist Vietnam's visit to the United States in June. But he remains under constant threat of arrest and has been barred from practicing law. Even his passport has been revoked.

These are just three of the many Vietnamese citizens imprisoned, facing house arrest, or under severe police harassment for the peaceful expression of their beliefs. By speaking out on their behalf, writing letters to their families, and raising their cases with Hanoi government officials, Members of Congress can stand by these brave individuals and, through them, all of Vietnam's voices of conscience.

Recommendation #3: Ensure consistency in American policy

The message from today's hearing is that the U.S. Congress is concerned about human rights in Vietnam. This is also a concern expressed by the White House.

Interestingly, within the State Department there is an ongoing debate on what constitutes religious freedom. One view has it that religious freedom can be narrowly measured by the ordinances on religion issued by the Vietnamese authorities or the number of religious entities allowed to "register" with the government and thus legally operate.

Many of us hold that respect for religious freedom is what occurs in practice, not what a communist government pledges on paper. Moreover, true religious freedom is when people can practice their faith without first registering with the authorities.

Just last week, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom concluded a ten day visit to Vietnam. This trip was originally scheduled for September but at the last minute Hanoi did not provide the travel visas. In the coming weeks, the Commission will report its findings and determine whether to recommend that the State Department redesignate Vietnam as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

To ensure that America speaks clearly and consistently on human rights, I urge you to support the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Recommendation #4: Promote an independent media

The Vietnamese communist government exercises a monopoly over the media to control information, restrict the free exchange of ideas, and cover-up its own corruption and misdeeds. To censor the Internet, the authorities employ firewalls, spy on internet cafes and threaten bloggers.

Thus, it is critical that the Congress support independent sources of information such as Radio Free Asia. Since the Internet has the potential of transforming authoritarian societies, we should also support the emerging bloggers and citizen journalists. Specifically, passage of the Global Online Freedom Act (H.R.275) would promote a de facto independent media in Vietnam.

Recommendation #5: Support democratic reforms

Unfortunately, human rights abuses will persist as long as there is a one-party dictatorship. The solution to human rights is a democratic society where all stake-holders have a voice in the future of their country. While achieving democracy must be foremost the effort of people inside the country, the international community can lend a hand by supporting the work of independent NGOs and initiatives for building civil society. This is essential for empowering the Vietnamese people while providing the foundation upon which a long lasting democracy can be achieved.

Thank you for holding this hearing and for your continued support for democracy and human rights in Vietnam.

VIET TAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBER HOANG TESTIFIES ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS IN VIETNAM BEFORE HOUSE PANEL

The House Foreign Affairs Committee issued the following testimony from a subcommittee hearing:

Statement by Duy (Dan) HoangCentral Committee Member, Viet Tan

Testimony before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight

"Human Rights Concerns in Vietnam":

Dear Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Thank you for the invitation to testify today. It is encouraging to see such strong bipartisan support for human rights in Vietnam.

You have heard from the other witnesses how the Hanoi government launched a crackdown after getting what it wanted: admission to the WTO, PNTR status, and removal from the CPC list for religious freedom violators.

I will focus my testimony on how the U.S. Congress can help defend human rights and promote an open society in Vietnam. I would like to offer five recommendations.

Recommendation #1: Send the Vietnam Human Rights Act to President Bush for his signature

On September 18, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Vietnam Human Rights Act (H.R.3096). This result was warmly welcomed by democracy activists living in Vietnam. In a letter thanking the House, the Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Vietnam stated:

"The fraternal and economic relationship between Vietnam and the United States is only sustainable and benefiting the peoples of the two countries when Vietnam is truly a democratic nation where human rights are respected."

Please urge colleagues in the Senate to support this important legislation. If necessary, provisions from H.R.3096 could be attached to other bills during the 110th Congress so that the substance of the Vietnam Human Rights Act is enacted by both chambers.

Recommendation #2: Adopt a voice of conscience

A well-known novelist and mother of two young children, Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, sits in jail for helping to organize peaceful protests against government land grabs and corruption. Held without trial, she suffers from diabetes. Her family has not been allowed to visit.

A young lawyer named Le Thi Cong Nhan is serving a prison sentence for "propaganda against the socialist government" and participating in an unsanctioned political party.

Another lawyer and former NED fellow, Le Quoc Quan, was arrested in March right after returning to Vietnam. He was released in advance of the president of communist Vietnam's visit to the United States in June. But he remains under constant threat of arrest and has been barred from practicing law. Even his passport has been revoked.

These are just three of the many Vietnamese citizens imprisoned, facing house arrest, or under severe police harassment for the peaceful expression of their beliefs. By speaking out on their behalf, writing letters to their families, and raising their cases with Hanoi government officials, Members of Congress can stand by these brave individuals and, through them, all of Vietnam's voices of conscience.

Recommendation #3: Ensure consistency in American policy

The message from today's hearing is that the U.S. Congress is concerned about human rights in Vietnam. This is also a concern expressed by the White House.

Interestingly, within the State Department there is an ongoing debate on what constitutes religious freedom. One view has it that religious freedom can be narrowly measured by the ordinances on religion issued by the Vietnamese authorities or the number of religious entities allowed to "register" with the government and thus legally operate.

Many of us hold that respect for religious freedom is what occurs in practice, not what a communist government pledges on paper. Moreover, true religious freedom is when people can practice their faith without first registering with the authorities.

Just last week, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom concluded a ten day visit to Vietnam. This trip was originally scheduled for September but at the last minute Hanoi did not provide the travel visas. In the coming weeks, the Commission will report its findings and determine whether to recommend that the State Department redesignate Vietnam as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

To ensure that America speaks clearly and consistently on human rights, I urge you to support the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Recommendation #4: Promote an independent media

The Vietnamese communist government exercises a monopoly over the media to control information, restrict the free exchange of ideas, and cover-up its own corruption and misdeeds. To censor the Internet, the authorities employ firewalls, spy on internet cafes and threaten bloggers.

Thus, it is critical that the Congress support independent sources of information such as Radio Free Asia. Since the Internet has the potential of transforming authoritarian societies, we should also support the emerging bloggers and citizen journalists. Specifically, passage of the Global Online Freedom Act (H.R.275) would promote a de facto independent media in Vietnam.

Recommendation #5: Support democratic reforms

Unfortunately, human rights abuses will persist as long as there is a one-party dictatorship. The solution to human rights is a democratic society where all stake-holders have a voice in the future of their country. While achieving democracy must be foremost the effort of people inside the country, the international community can lend a hand by supporting the work of independent NGOs and initiatives for building civil society. This is essential for empowering the Vietnamese people while providing the foundation upon which a long lasting democracy can be achieved.

Thank you for holding this hearing and for your continued support for democracy and human rights in Vietnam.

VIET TAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBER HOANG TESTIFIES ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS IN VIETNAM BEFORE HOUSE PANEL

The House Foreign Affairs Committee issued the following testimony from a subcommittee hearing:

Statement by Duy (Dan) HoangCentral Committee Member, Viet Tan

Testimony before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight

"Human Rights Concerns in Vietnam":

Dear Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Thank you for the invitation to testify today. It is encouraging to see such strong bipartisan support for human rights in Vietnam.

You have heard from the other witnesses how the Hanoi government launched a crackdown after getting what it wanted: admission to the WTO, PNTR status, and removal from the CPC list for religious freedom violators.

I will focus my testimony on how the U.S. Congress can help defend human rights and promote an open society in Vietnam. I would like to offer five recommendations.

Recommendation #1: Send the Vietnam Human Rights Act to President Bush for his signature

On September 18, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Vietnam Human Rights Act (H.R.3096). This result was warmly welcomed by democracy activists living in Vietnam. In a letter thanking the House, the Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Vietnam stated:

"The fraternal and economic relationship between Vietnam and the United States is only sustainable and benefiting the peoples of the two countries when Vietnam is truly a democratic nation where human rights are respected."

Please urge colleagues in the Senate to support this important legislation. If necessary, provisions from H.R.3096 could be attached to other bills during the 110th Congress so that the substance of the Vietnam Human Rights Act is enacted by both chambers.

Recommendation #2: Adopt a voice of conscience

A well-known novelist and mother of two young children, Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, sits in jail for helping to organize peaceful protests against government land grabs and corruption. Held without trial, she suffers from diabetes. Her family has not been allowed to visit.

A young lawyer named Le Thi Cong Nhan is serving a prison sentence for "propaganda against the socialist government" and participating in an unsanctioned political party.

Another lawyer and former NED fellow, Le Quoc Quan, was arrested in March right after returning to Vietnam. He was released in advance of the president of communist Vietnam's visit to the United States in June. But he remains under constant threat of arrest and has been barred from practicing law. Even his passport has been revoked.

These are just three of the many Vietnamese citizens imprisoned, facing house arrest, or under severe police harassment for the peaceful expression of their beliefs. By speaking out on their behalf, writing letters to their families, and raising their cases with Hanoi government officials, Members of Congress can stand by these brave individuals and, through them, all of Vietnam's voices of conscience.

Recommendation #3: Ensure consistency in American policy

The message from today's hearing is that the U.S. Congress is concerned about human rights in Vietnam. This is also a concern expressed by the White House.

Interestingly, within the State Department there is an ongoing debate on what constitutes religious freedom. One view has it that religious freedom can be narrowly measured by the ordinances on religion issued by the Vietnamese authorities or the number of religious entities allowed to "register" with the government and thus legally operate.

Many of us hold that respect for religious freedom is what occurs in practice, not what a communist government pledges on paper. Moreover, true religious freedom is when people can practice their faith without first registering with the authorities.

Just last week, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom concluded a ten day visit to Vietnam. This trip was originally scheduled for September but at the last minute Hanoi did not provide the travel visas. In the coming weeks, the Commission will report its findings and determine whether to recommend that the State Department redesignate Vietnam as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

To ensure that America speaks clearly and consistently on human rights, I urge you to support the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Recommendation #4: Promote an independent media

The Vietnamese communist government exercises a monopoly over the media to control information, restrict the free exchange of ideas, and cover-up its own corruption and misdeeds. To censor the Internet, the authorities employ firewalls, spy on internet cafes and threaten bloggers.

Thus, it is critical that the Congress support independent sources of information such as Radio Free Asia. Since the Internet has the potential of transforming authoritarian societies, we should also support the emerging bloggers and citizen journalists. Specifically, passage of the Global Online Freedom Act (H.R.275) would promote a de facto independent media in Vietnam.

Recommendation #5: Support democratic reforms

Unfortunately, human rights abuses will persist as long as there is a one-party dictatorship. The solution to human rights is a democratic society where all stake-holders have a voice in the future of their country. While achieving democracy must be foremost the effort of people inside the country, the international community can lend a hand by supporting the work of independent NGOs and initiatives for building civil society. This is essential for empowering the Vietnamese people while providing the foundation upon which a long lasting democracy can be achieved.

Thank you for holding this hearing and for your continued support for democracy and human rights in Vietnam.

Klitschko's defense against Haye set for June 20

David Haye can become a heavyweight world champion in only his second fight at that class.

The British former cruiserweight world champ announced Thursday that he has finalized a deal to fight IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine on June 20.

The fight looks certain to be held in Germany, where Klitschko and his brother Vitali are based. But Haye believes he has the speed and punching power to take the titles from a fighter he claims has been trying to avoid him.

"He's already showed me his hand through the way he's negotiated," Hayes said. "He has never wanted this fight, and was only going to agree to it …

Illegal Loggers Threaten Indians

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Alberto Pizango Chota saw loggers come to his Indian village in the northern Amazon when he was 7. First they felled the mahogany. Then they returned to cut the cedars. By the time they came back for other hardwoods, there was little left of the forest.

Pizango says illegal logging also has endangered his Indian people - and the survival of primitive tribes who avoid all contact with other humans. Dozens of violent encounters with the tribesmen have been documented in the last five years.

"Sometimes they run away" from the loggers, said Pizango, now 42. "Some stay and defend their rights to the forest," pitting their arrows against 16-gauge …