English translation by Faithful Follower for VietAm Review, August 31, 2009. Rev Nguyen Van Ly’s health is unstable in the prison (News article on 08/28/2009) On 08/24/2009 Madam Nguyen thi Hieu, sister of Rev Ly and his nephew paid him a visit at Ba Sao Prison in Nam Ha. This is an early visit because regular visits should be in odd months. Rev Ly appeared with a limp a little bit but his face looked normal. He wore the prisoner’s stripe suit which made him uncomfortable. After asking for news of family and friends, he talked about his own health issue. He has been diagnosed with high blood pressure (see news article on 07/13/2009). The Prisoner of Conscience told his sister many issues which he didn’t tell her in last visit on July 09. “ On May 13 while walking back and forth in the narrow cell, suddenly I saw blood spilling out on the floor. Looking back carefully, I found out that it was bleeding from my urinary bladder. It was dark color blood. I called the physicians. They came and gave me some medicine to stop the bleeding and it was cured. On May 25, I fell down in the cell and broke a little hole on the back of my head. I was given some medicine also. On July 12, three days after the family’s visit, suddenly, I found my right arm and leg stiffened which I could not move them normally. They gave me some medicine to be taken by mouth with no further treatment like injection or so. Recognizing the unusual, on July 17, I wrote a letter asking for the family’s visit by early August. Because I could not control my stiffened arm, my writing looked very scrawly. I was waiting but without response, so, on August 03, I wrote another letter to inform the family. This time, my hand writing looked better. because I had to make a great effort. Now, my health is a little bit improved.” (attached photocopy of the letter). Madam Hieu responded: “The family did not receive your letter dated July 14. The letter dated August 03 was received on August 22. Previously, On August 15, Sister Quyen (Rev Ly’s niece, a nun of the Order of Our Lady’s Visit in Huê City) had got news on your unstable health through Father Nguyên Huu Giai who received the emergency news from Hanoi.” Father Ly said: “I hope I’ll be visited every month from now on to update my health situation. If you are not well enough to go, let other nieces or nephews do. And the Huê’s Archdiocese who’s holding main responsibility on me”. Then Father Ly talked about other issues: “Recently, I’ve requested the jailers to let me share my foods to poorer prisoners. Initially, they disagreed. I argued: I you don’t allow me to share my goods to others, I’ll not receive them anymore. I’ll return them all. As a priest, my conscience will not allow me to enjoy myself while other brothers are suffering. Now, they’ve already approved. Please send your gifts regularly so that I can help those without family visit. They are pitiful prisoners”. Father Ly directly talked to major Nam, who has been exclusively “monitoring” him for years: “You were wrong in killing Bishop Nguyên Kim Diên. It should be me Nguyên Van Ly to be killed! I’m now like an Aids patient, who is incurable. You require me to write self review every three months with the hope that I’ll change my mind! There is nothing to be self reviewed. Nothing to change! I should review you and your government instead. You have done so many crimes and mistakes in West Highland, Thai Ha, Tam Toa, etc. When I’m free, I’ll go to those places to support the people to protest against and denounce the crimes of Communist government...” At the end of two hour visit (we’ve just summarized key points here), Madam Hieu left Major Nam three phone numbers, the Archdiocese’s, the family’s in Quang Biên and the cousin’s in Thua Thiên with remarks; “ Please inform the family and the Archdiocese at once if any emergency related to my brother. You will be responsible if Father Ly dies in the prison!” Father Ly also asked for those numbers so that he can contact later on. On returning to Huê on August 27, Madam Hieu and her nephew arrived at the Archdiocese Huê to see Archbishop Nguyên Nhu The for information update. However, she was said that The Archbishop was absent so she should see Deputy Bishop Le Van Hong. In the meeting with Bishop Le Van Hong, Madam Hieu raised two points straight out: “ 1, the Archdiocese of Huê to request the government not to place Father Ly in solitary confinement anymore. Solitary confinement is considered as a disciplinary action in the prison. With his current health situation, it would be too late for rescue if something is threatening his life in the confinement. 2, Officially, it is the Archdiocese who has the main responsibility for Father Ly. We’re taking care of him because we’re his next of kin only. However, we’re too far away, we cannot pay a visit every month. As you are aware, in the visit of USCRIF on May 13, 2009, the delegation mentioned that it’s not adequate if we just visit him every two months. Whereas, the Archdiocese has visited him only once”!?! The Deputy Bishop listened and noted her comments. Let’s wait and see! Dear compatriots and worldwide friends, please keep on your consideration, informing and praying for the health of our prisoner of conscience, the symbol of undefeatable struggle for Democracy, Human Rights and Religious Freedom in Vietnam. Reported by Bloc 8406 FNA reporters according to Madam Nguyên Thi Hieu in Huê City August 28, 2009.   more »

Ngày 24-08-2009 vừa qua, chị ruột của linh mục Nguyễn Văn Lý là bà Nguyễn Thị Hiểu và một cháu trai gọi linh mục bằng cậu ruột đã đến trại giam Ba Sao, Nam Hà thăm cha. Đây là cuộc thăm viếng sớm hơn thường lệ, vì lẽ ra phải là đầu tháng lẻ. Linh mục Lý xuất hiện, chân đi hơi cà nhắc nhưng sắc mặt vẫn bình thường, trong bộ đồ tù sọc dưa mà ngài luôn cảm thấy khó chịu. Sau khi hỏi thăm gia đình bè bạn, cha nói ngay về tình hình sức khỏe bản thân, vốn đang bị cao huyết áp (xin xem lại bản tin ngày 13-07-2009). Vị tù nhân lương tâm cho bà chị biết nhiều điều mà trong chuyến thăm ngày 09-07, cha chưa nói: “Hôm 13-05, đang đi lui đi tới trong căn phòng biệt giam chật hẹp, em tự nhiên thấy máu chảy đầy sàn nhà. Nhìn kỹ thì thấy máu xuất ra từ phần hạ thể, từ bàng quang. Toàn là máu bầm. Em kêu y tá bác sĩ. Họ liền tới xức thuốc và cho uống thuốc cầm máu. Vết thương nay đã lành. Ngày 25-05, em lại bị té trong phòng, lủng một lỗ nhỏ phía sau đầu. Trại cũng lại cho uống thuốc. Hôm 12-07, ba ngày sau chuyến thăm của gia đình, tự nhiên em cảm thấy tay phải và chân phải bị cứng đờ, không cử động được. Trại cũng cho uống thuốc chứ không chích. Thấy chuyện bất thường, ngày 14-7, em đã viết một lá thư, yêu cầu gia đình thăm đầu tháng 08. Vì tay không cử động bình thường, thành ra chữ viết rất nguệch ngoạc. Thấy chẳng có hồi âm, nên ngày 03-08 em viết thêm một lá thư nữa để gia đình biết. Lần này thì chữ viết đẹp hơn, vì phải cố gắng nhiều. Nay thì sức khỏe tạm ổn” (xin xem hình chụp bức thư bên dưới). Bà Hiểu trả lời: “Lá thư ngày 14-07 của cậu, gia đình không nhận được. Còn lá thư viết ngày 03-08 thì mới nhận hôm 22-08. Trước đó, ngày 15-08, cháu Quyên (gọi cha Lý bằng chú, đi tu dòng Đức Bà Đi Viếng tại Huế) khi gặp cha Nguyễn Hữu Giải tại La Vang thì đã được cha cho biết sức khỏe của cậu không ổn và cha đã nhận được tin cấp báo này từ Hà Nội” Linh mục Lý đáp: “Em mong từ nay được thăm nuôi hàng tháng để kịp thời thông báo về sức khỏe. Chị không đủ sức thì nhờ mấy đứa cháu. Rồi còn Tòa Tổng giám mục Huế nữa, vốn có trách nhiệm chính về em”. Đoạn cha Lý quay sang nói về chuyện khác: “Thời gian gần đây, em có yêu cầu trại để cho em có quyền chia sẻ đồ ăn thuốc uống cho các tù nhân nghèo khổ. Ban đầu trại không cho. Sau đó em tranh đấu: Nếu không cho phép tôi san sẻ thì những món quà gia đình gởi, tôi sẽ không nhận nữa, gởi trả lui hết. Là linh mục, tôi không có thể hưởng một mình được. Lương tâm của tôi không cho phép. Rất nhiều anh em tù nhân túng thiếu thức ăn thuốc uống trong trại này, tôi phải chia sẻ cho họ. Nay thì trại đã bằng lòng! Vậy xin gia đình ráng gởi ra đều đặn, để em có thể giúp cho những bạn tù không ai thăm nuôi giúp đỡ. Họ rất tội nghiệp. Nhà tù CS ra sao thì Chị biết rồi!” Quay sang viên trung tá công an tên Nam , người đặc trách “quản lý” mình từ bao năm nay, cha Lý nói một cách thẳng thừng: “Các ông giết Đức cha Nguyễn Kim Điền là sai rồi, lộn rồi! Phải giết Nguyễn Văn Lý này mới đúng! Tôi nay như người bị bệnh Sida (Aids), hết thuốc chữa rồi. Các ông bắt tôi kiểm điểm 3 tháng một lần để mong tôi thay đổi tư tưởng! Có gì mà kiểm điểm, mà thay đổi chứ! Tôi kiểm điểm các ông, kiểm điểm nhà nước này thì có. Bao nhiêu điều sai lầm và tội ác, các ông đang phạm ở Tây Nguyên, ở Thái Hà, ở Tam Tòa... Ngày nào ra khỏi đây, tôi sẽ tới những chỗ đó để hỗ trợ đồng bào, để tố cáo và phản đối tội ác của nhà cầm quyền Cộng sản…” Kết thúc cuộc nói chuyện dài hai giờ (ở đây chúng tôi chỉ tóm tắt), bà Hiểu đã để lại cho ông trung tá Nam ba số điện thoại: một của Tòa TGM Huế, một của gia đình ở Quảng Biên, một của cô em họ tại Thừa Thiên, với lời dặn: “Em tôi có chuyện gì thì xin ông báo tin ngay để gia đình và Tòa Giám mục ra gấp. Cha Lý mà chết trong tù thì mấy ông chịu trách nhiệm đó!” Cha Lý cũng xin cho mình 3 số điện thoại ấy, phòng khi ra tù thì có thể liên lạc ngay được. Trở về Huế, bà Hiểu và người cháu sáng ngày 27-08 lại đến Tòa TGM Huế, nơi bà đã ghé qua chiều ngày 23-08 để lấy bộ sách kinh cho cha Lý nơi linh mục Quản lý Nhà Chung. Bà mong gặp Đức TGM Nguyễn Như Thể để thông báo tình hình. Linh mục Quản lý cho biết Đức TGM đi vắng nên bà hãy đến gặp Đức Giám mục Phụ tá Lê Văn Hồng. Gặp ĐGM Phụ tá, bà Hiểu thẳng thắn nêu ra hai điểm: “1- Xin Tòa TGM Huế yêu cầu nhà cầm quyền CS không được biệt giam cha Lý nữa. Việc biệt giam là một hình phạt kỷ luật trong nhà tù. Với tình trạng sức khỏe hiện tại, nếu tiếp tục bị biệt giam, cha Lý có thể lâm cơn nguy tử mà không ai biết, không ai cứu kịp. 2- Tòa TGM có trách nhiệm chính đối với cha Lý, con cái của Giáo phận Huế. Gia đình đi thăm là chỉ vì lý do máu mủ thôi! Với lại gia đình ở quá xa, không thể mỗi tháng đi thăm nuôi một lần. Đức Cha biết rồi đó, Ủy hội Tự do Tôn giáo quốc tế Hoa Kỳ, trong chuyến thăm cha Lý ngày 13-05-2009, đã chê rằng gia đình đi thăm nuôi cha Lý 2 tháng một lần là quá ít. Trong khi đó Tòa TGM mỗi năm chỉ thăm cha Lý một lần duy nhất”!?! Đức Giám mục Phụ tá lắng nghe, ghi nhận ý kiến. Ta hãy chờ xem! Bà Hiểu cũng cho biết là khi trở về nhà, bà sẽ làm đơn yêu cầu trại giam không được biệt giam linh mục Nguyễn Văn Lý nữa. Ta cũng hãy chờ xem! Xin Đồng bào và Thân hữu quốc tế tiếp tục quan tâm theo dõi, thông báo và cầu nguyện cho sức khỏe của vị tù nhân lương tâm, biểu tượng đấu tranh bất khuất cho Dân chủ Nhân quyền và Tự do tôn giáo tại VN. Nhóm Phóng viên FNA Khối 8406 tường trình theo lời kể của bà Nguyễn Thị Hiểu. Huế ngày 28-08-2009, lúc 15g30   more »

For Immediate Release Vietnam: Release Peaceful Democracy Advocates Pending Trials Show Vietnam ’s Growing Intolerance of Dissent ( New York , August 19, 2009) - Vietnam should immediately release six peaceful democracy activists facing trial on groundless charges of threatening national security, in contravention of its obligations under international and Vietnamese guarantees of free expression, Human Rights Watch said today. The six activists, arrested during a government crackdown that started last September, include the well-known novelist and journalist Nguyen Xuan Nghia, 60. A recipient of the prestigious Hellman/Hammett writers award in 2008, Nghia is a leader of the banned pro-democracy group, Block 8406, and an editorial board member of the underground democracy bulletin, To Quoc (Fatherland). The activists’ alleged crimes, according to a copy of a May 17 Ministry of Public Security investigation report obtained by Human Rights Watch, include distributing leaflets, hanging banners on bridges, writing poems and articles, and disseminating articles on the internet calling for democracy, human rights, and a pluralistic political system. In an indictment dated July 3, the six were charged with conducting anti-government propaganda under article 88 of Vietnam ’s penal code, which carries a sentence of up to 12 years’ imprisonment. “There’s no question that the only offense these people have committed is to peacefully advocate for political pluralism and human rights,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch. “They should be released immediately.” According to the police report, the group hung pro-democracy banners on bridges in Hai Duong and Haiphong cities in August 2008 and planned and conducted demonstrations against China and the Beijing Olympics in 2007 and 2008. In addition, the police report said, the six regularly met to exchange ideas, maintained relationships with democracy activists in Vietnam and abroad, and provided information to foreign radio stations and newspapers. “Since when does writing poems or hanging banners on a bridge calling for democracy threaten national security?” asked Adams . “Once again the Vietnamese government is treating the expression of opinions as a crime. Vietnam needs to stop locking people up for their political beliefs.” Focusing on Nghia as the alleged leader of the group, the police report details 57 pieces Nghia wrote from 2007 until his arrest in 2008, including poetry, literature, short stories and articles, whose purpose, the report alleged, was to “insult the Communist Party of Vietnam, distort the situation of the country, slander and disgrace the country's leaders, demand a pluralistic and multiparty system … and incite and attract other people into the opposition movement.” The five other activists named in Nghia’s indictment, who are expected to be tried with him, include veteran democracy activist Nguyen Van Tinh, 67; land rights activists Nguyen Kim Nhan, 60, and Nguyen Van Tuc, 45; university student Ngo Quynh, 25, and engineer Nguyen Manh Son, 66. Four others arrested last September have not yet been indicted and remain in detention at Thanh Liet Provisional Detention Center (B-14) in Hanoi , They are writer and internet blogger Pham Thanh Nghien, teacher Vu Hung, poet Tran Duc Thach, and engineer Pham Van Troi. In addition to the ten activists arrested in September 2008, at least seven other dissidents have been arrested in a fresh round of arrests that began in May 2009. Others at possible risk of arrest for suspected links to Nghia’s group include veteran democracy activists Nguyen Thanh Giang, Vu Cao Quan, and Catholic priest Phan Van Loi. They were identified in the police report and indictment for follow-up investigation. Vietnam’s past track record suggests that the upcoming trials will have politically determined verdicts and will be marked by violations of international fair trial standards. Vietnamese courts lack independence and impartiality. Foreign press, diplomats, and international observers are often barred from attending trials of dissidents, who have had difficulty accessing legal counsel. “ Vietnam 's donors should raise these cases directly with government authorities and strongly condemn this crackdown on free expression,” said Adams . “Respecting basic rights and freedoms must go hand-in-hand with any strategy for economic development.” The Vietnamese government has repeatedly refused to revise or repeal national security provisions in its penal code, such as article 88, which criminalizes peaceful dissent, most recently during the review of its rights record in May by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). In September, the HRC will issue its outcome report on Vietnam ’s Universal Periodic Review, through which the rights records of all 192 UN member states are examined every four years. The Vietnamese government has already indicated that it intends to reject key recommendations made by the HRC to lift its restrictions on freedom of expression and association, independent media, and human rights defenders. “Rather than working with the UN to bring its laws and practices into compliance with international standards, the Vietnamese government continues to use these laws to silence government critics,” said Adams . “Even when Vietnam ’s rights record is in the spotlight at the UN, it refuses to adopt recommendations to improve its record.” Vietnam’s Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Vietnam is a state party, oblige the government to respect freedom of expression, belief, and opinion. For more information, please contact: In London , Brad Adams (English): +44-790-872-8333 (mobile) In London , Elaine Pearson (English): +44-755-274-8301 (mobile   more »

VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK 14550 Magnolia St., Suite 203, Westminster, CA 92683 Tel.: (858) 837-2152; Email: vnhrnet@vietnamhuma nrights.net Website: www.vietnamhumanrig hts.net For Immediate Release (California, August 17, 2009) Vietnam Human Rights Network has just sent to President Barack Obama a letter requesting him to instruct the State Department to put Vietnam back on the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC), and to urge both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senateto vote for the Vietnam Human Rights Act at their earliest convenience so that the President can sign it into law. In this letter, Nguyen Thanh Trang, head of the Vietnam Human Rights Network has reminded President Obama that since Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Hanoi has increased state control over all print and electronic media, including blocking the Internet access and jamming the signals of Radio Free Asia. It has also imprisoned dozens of individuals who have posted or distributed pro-democracy materials. Violations of freedom of religion in recent months are quite alarming. They include the following actions, among others: - There is a persistent pattern of intimidation and persecution of Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh, a prominemt Mennonite leader of the House Churches in the Central Highland region; - Local police have, since June of this year, used thugs to harass and attack the Bat Nha Zen Monastery in Lam Dong Province; - Since last month, Catholic Priests and their followers of the Tam Toa Church in Dong Hoi have been assaulted by the police during their peaceful vigils against the destruction of their newly-built church by local authorities. The head of this world-wide human rights network also reminded President Obama that, over the last few years, the U.S. Congress has passed numerous resolutions condemning human rights abuses in Vietnam, but Hanoi continues to disregard them all. That is why his organization would like to request President Obama to initiate these two important actions so that the Communist authorities in Hanoi would undertand that their human rights violations can not be tolerated. ____________ _______ For more information, please contact Nguyen Thanh Trang at Email: nttrangvnhr@ hotmail; or Tel.: (858) 837-2152.   more »

Vietnam, Laos oppose Asean 'interference' Writer: THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL AND AGENCIES Published: 15/08/2009 at 12:00 AM Newspaper section: News Thailand, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has proposed that other Asean members ask the Burmese government to give a pardon to its opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. But two Asean members - Vietnam and Laos - oppose Thailand's move, saying Asean should not interfere in the affairs of Burma. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Thailand has written to other Asean members seeking a consensus to demand that the Burmese government considers giving a pardon to Mrs Suu Kyi. Thailand has also sent a copy to Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win, said Mr Kasit, who was in Malaysia for the Thai-Malaysian Joint Commission in Sabah state. "We are waiting for a reply from other Asean members," said Mr Kasit. The Burmese court on Tuesday sentenced Mrs Suu Kyi to another 18 months of house arrest for violating house arrest rules, after an American man swam across a lake to stay uninvited at her villa for two days in May. Mr Kasit said no special meeting among Asean foreign ministers would be held on the issue, because at least four countries were not ready. He did not say which countries. But Vietnam disagrees with Thailand's call. Vietnam state media reported yesterday that Vietnam did not support calls by other Asean member states for Burma to free Mrs Suu Kyi. The state-run Viet Nam News said Vietnam had no criticism of Burma's decision on Tuesday to place Mrs Suu Kyi under house arrest for the next 18 months, effectively barring her from elections next year. "It is our view that the Aung San Suu Kyi trial is an internal affair of Burma," Vietnamese government spokesman Le Dung said on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On Wednesday, the Thai government called on Burma to release Mrs Suu Kyi immediately and allow her to participate in next year's elections, echoing its own statements and those of other Asean members at the group's regional forum last month. Mr Dung said Vietnam had always supported Burma and hoped it would continue to implement the "roadmap to democracy" that has been outlined by its government. Laos said it shared the same view as Vietnam. Vientiane said the trial of Mrs Suu Kyi took place in accordance with the country's law. It was opposed to interfering in neighbouring nations' affairs. "As a member of Asean, we uphold the basic principles of Asean as stipulated in the Asean Charter, particularly the principle of non-interference in [each other's] internal affairs," said Lao foreign affairs spokesman Khenthong Nuanthasing. "We believe the recent trial of Aung San Suu Kyi was conducted in accordance with the judicial process of Burma," he added. "We are confident Burma will be able to implement the seven-step roadmap that will lead to democratisation, successfully and within the specified time." Burma has notched up one of the world's worst human rights records, and its refusal to free Mrs Suu Kyi has inspired near universal outrage and condemnation.   more »

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:41:00 -0500 Statement on Aung San Suu Kyi Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo August 11, 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following is a transcript of comments made by Secretary Clinton regarding Aung San Suu Kyi at a press availability with DRC Foreign Minister Alexis Thambwe this afternoon: "With respect to Aung San Suu Kyi, she should not have been tried and she should not have been convicted. We continue to call for her release from continuing house arrest. We also call for the release of more than 2,000 political prisoners, including the American John Yettaw. We are concerned about the harsh sentence imposed upon him especially in light of his medical condition. The Burmese junta should immediately end its repression of so many in this country, start a dialogue with the oppositon and the ethnic groups. Otherwise the elections they have scheduled for next year will have absolutely no legitimacy." PRN: 2009/T11   more »

SEAPA condemns guilty verdict, extended detention for Aung San Suu Kyi 11 August 2009 The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) condemns the guilty verdict and 18-month extended house arrest meted out to Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on 11 August 2009. SEAPA joins the international community in rejecting this judgment, and in demanding the immediate release of Suu Kyi, a democracy icon in Burma and for the rest of the world. We also urge that Suu Kyi be granted immediate and continuing access to the media, her lawyers, and members of the diplomatic community in Yangon, so as to ensure her safety and well-being while she remains under continuing government custody. Even prior to this new verdict, Burma's democracy leader has already spent 14 of the last 20 years in detention. She was near to securing a mandatory review that could have facilitated her release, but two months ago suddenly found her prison term under threat of yet another extension. On 11 August she was found guilty of violating an internal security law prohibiting her to receive guests. The charges resulted from a bizarre incident in which American John Yettaw swam uninvited to her lakeside home in May. The junta claimed that this breached the terms of her house arrest, despite a lack of evidence to suggest that Suu Kyi was complicit in Yettaw's actions. SEAPA says the sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi merely lends credence to fears that the charges were trumped up and the trial was rigged so as to isolate the opposition leader, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, from scheduled national elections in 2010. On May 22 this year, the United Nations' Security Council issued a statement--its third--calling on the regime to enter into genuine dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic groups. Instead, the generals have continued to detain her, along with more than 2,100 political prisoners. SEAPA believes that no genuine democratic reform can be initiated in Burma if the military junta continues to suppress contrary views and dissenting voices. Aung San Suu Kyi is a symbol of all the victims of the regime's harsh policies over the years. This includes not only the political opposition but also journalists, artists, press freedom advocates and citizen journalists whose only crime, in the eyes of the junta, is getting independent news and commentary out to the public. ---------------------------------------------- The Southeast Asian Press Alliance is a coalition of press freedom advocacy groups from Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. Established in November 1998, it is the only regional network with the specific mandate of promoting and protecting press freedom throughout Southeast Asia. SEAPA is composed of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (Indonesia), the Jakarta-based Institute for the Study of the Free Flow of Information (ISAI), the Manila-based Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and the Thai Journalists Association. SEAPA also has partners in Malaysia, Cambodia, East Timor, and exiled Burmese media, and undertakes projects and programs for press freedom throughout the region. For inquiries, please contact us at: seapa@seapa.org, or call +662 243 5579. ------------------------------------------------------------ Southeast Asian Press Alliance. Bangkok Office: 3B, 3rd floor, Thakolsuk Place, No. 115 Terddumri Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10300. Tel. (662)2435579 Fax.(662)2448749   more »

July 28, 2009 Dear Minister Cannon, Through previous correspondence I have brought the ongoing persecution of political dissidents in Vietnam to your attention. .... I urge you to echo the community's concerns in a statement that recognizes the persecution of the democratic movement in Vietnam and calls for an immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners. SEE ATTACHED PDF Paul Dewar, MP New Democrat Foreign Affairs Critic Ottawa Centre   more »