IRVINE, Calif. (AP) - Irvine council members voted 3-2 to draw up new criteria for forming ties with foreign cities after a plan to join in “friendship” with Nha Trang in Vietnam was met with protest.
The Los Angeles Times reports (https://lat.ms/1hshNLc ) the new rules would exclude municipalities in countries that do not respect human rights or democratic values.
The proposal to join with Nha Trang, on the coast of Vietnam, was withdrawn by Councilman Larry Agran this month after an uproar from many in the Vietnamese community. More than 600 protesters packed the council meeting Tuesday night.
Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen cited United Nations data identifying Vietnam as one of the worst violators of human rights - and Nha Trang as a hot spot for human trafficking and child labor violations.
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Information from: Los Angeles Times, https://www.latimes.com
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