US Ambassador to Vietnam Urges Hanoi to Release Political Prisoners

The U.S. ambassador to Vietnam is calling on Vietnam to open up its single-party political system and release dissidents from jail.

In an editorial sent to news organizations in Vietnam, Ambassador Michael Marine said there are an increasing number of people in prison or under detention whose only crime was the peaceful expression of their views.

He said for the sake of Vietnam's international integration and development, its government must release the dissidents now.

The ambassador also praised Vietnam for its economic growth and recent accession to the World Trade Organization. But he said the communist government must open up politically in order to reach its full potential.

美国驻越南大使敦促越南开放一党政治体制并从监牢中释放持不同政见者。

马林在一篇送交越南新闻媒体的评论中说，越来越多的越南人只是由于以和平方式表达自己的观点而被关进监狱或被拘留。

马林表示，为了越南融入国际社会和促进发展，河内政府必须立即释放持不同政见者。

另外，马林对越南的经济增长和最近加入世界贸易组织表示赞扬。但他指出，为了充份发挥潜力，越南的共产党政府必须在政治上开放。