US Commission on International Religious Freedom give recommendations to Secretary Rice

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom announced their 2008 recommendations to Secretary of State Rice on CPC’s, or countries of particular concern. Their 2008 annual report was also released to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress on U.S. policy. The countries that the commission designated as CPC’s include Burma, North Korea, China, Sudan, and Turkmenistan among others.

The event, which was held at the National Press Club, was over an hour in length and commission members were on hand to give brief summaries on some of the CPC countries giving reasons as to why certain countries were placed on the list. Most countries were cited as having little or no religious freedom including violations of human rights and international treaties. When Vietnam was discussed, their recent acceptance into the World Trade Organization was spoken of, but the commissioner speaking about Vietnam said they had “regressed” since that point and added that their economic improvements were short lived and simply a hoax.

North Korea was noted as having religious establishments and temples as a show of religion for visitors to the country, but that these establishments are merely fakes and not used. Religious movement has been forced to the underground in North Korea.

Eritrea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan were also designated as CPC’s.