Cosunam and Viet Tan co-hosts press conference ahead of UPR 2009 Comité Suisse-Vietnam COSUNAM Parti pour la Réforme du Vietnam VIET TAN Thierry Oppikofer, Président Do Hoang Diem, Président www.cosunam.ch www.viettan.org Cosunam and Viet Tan co-hosts press conference ahead of the UN review of Vietnam's human rights record Ahead of Vietnam's date of review of its human rights record on May 8, 2009, leaders of Viet Tan and Cosunam will co-host a press conference on May 6 at the headquarters of Parti Radical Genevois (Geneva Radical Party) to raise human rights concerns and call for political freedom in Vietnam. Despite a constitution that guarantees its citizens "equal political, economic, cultural and social rights," Vietnam’s authoritarian one-party state maintains an unsatisfactory human rights record that falls short of compliance with the UN human rights framework. The Hanoi government consistently uses extensive legislative provisions to curtail political opposition movements, crackdown on dissent, and limit its citizens' freedoms of speech, religion, assembly and movement: A restrictive legal framework and vaguely defined criminal code enables the government to detain and convict, sometimes without trial, citizens deemed a “national security risk” under house arrest, rehabilitation camps, or mental hospitals. Hundreds of religious and political prisoners remain in harsh prison conditions. Efforts to question policies regarding human rights, religious freedoms, or matters of land dispute are dealt with a brutal hand. Dissent is muzzled and journalists are frequently punished for criticizing its leaders, as there is no independent media in Vietnam. The Vietnam Communist Party disregards the freedom of association by persisting in its efforts to repress religious freedom. Peaceful gatherings by farmers and labor rights activist to advocate for land reparations and independent trade unions have been met with a harsh crackdown and widespread imprisonment. The press conference will examine the need for human rights, political freedom, and government accountability. Who: Representatives of COSUNAM and VIET TAN When: Wednesday, May 6, 2009, 10:30 A.M. Where: Parti Radical Genevois Headquarters, Boulevard Jaques-Dalcroze 13, 1205 Genève A mechanism of the UN, the UPR is a chance to systemically review the human rights records of all UN Member States. The upcoming 5th Session, scheduled to run between May 5 - 15, will allow 10 states to respond to questions, concerns, and recommendations put forth by other UN Member States. Contact: Dr Trang Nguyen Phone number: +41 78 826 0758 ### Angelina Do Viet Tan www.viettan.org The mission of Viet Tan is to overcome dictatorship, build the foundation for a sustainable democracy, and demand justice and human rights for the Vietnamese people through nonviolent struggle based on civic participation.   more »

Amnesty International USA Group 19 members Jean Libby 1222 Fulton St. Palo Alto, CA 94301 jlibby@alum.calberkeley.org Fax: 1-650-618-8603 His Excellency Nguyen Minh Triet President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam c/o Ambassador Nguyen Tam Chien Embassy of Vietnam 1233 20th Street N.W. Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 200369 May 2, 2009 Your Excellency, I have the honor and the duty to send you 780 signatures on petitions calling on you to honor your international human rights obligations by releasing all prisoners of conscience, including the Reverend Nguyen Van Ly, who has already spent around 17 years in prison for peacefully criticizing government policies on religions and advocating for greater respect for human rights since the late 1970s. Amnesty International names him as an Individual at Risk. We have gathered these signatures on petitions in hope that you will release the prisoners of conscience in recognition of the United Nations Human Rights Council Review scheduled for May 8, 2009 in Geneva. Amnesty International states for the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review that Article 69 of the 1992 Constitution of Viet Nam affirms the right to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, but only ‘in accordance with the provisions of the law.’ These laws, often enacted after 1992, are explicitly in breach of international human rights treaties that Viet Nam has ratified. (A/HRC/WG.6/5/VNM/3 23 February2009) Our volunteers’ experience is an humbling one because of the outpouring of support for the release of prisoners of conscience in Viet Nam by our Vietnamese friends, neighbors, co-workers, and fellow citizens. We have translated the petition into Vietnamese with their appreciation and support. Please notice that a large majority of the signatures are Vietnamese. At the head of the list, a political prisoner for twenty-seven years in Viet Nam between 1961 and 1991, dissident poet Nguyen Chi Thien, has personally gathered hundreds of the names. He was rescued from imprisonment when he was near death from deliberate starvation in 1991. With sincere thanks for your attention,   more »