source: http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=ENGASA410042007
AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL
Public Statement
AI Index: ASA 41/004/2007 (Public)
News Service No: 081
24 April 2007
Vietnamese
lawyers, trade unionists, religious leaders and Internet dissidents have been
detained or imprisoned in increasing numbers in recent months. Amnesty
International is deeply concerned over an ongoing crackdown by the Vietnamese
government against people who have done nothing but peacefully express their
opinions.
On 30 April, "Liberation Day", the Vietnamese government marks the
anniversary of the end of the
In a trial in the city of Hue on 30 March 2007, Catholic priest Nguyen Van Ly,
aged 60, was sentenced to eight years in prison for "conducting propaganda
against the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam" under Article 88 of the Penal
Code. Accusations levelled against him included involvement in the
pro-democracy movement Bloc 8406 and taking part in the establishment of banned
political groups. Four co-defendants facing the same charges were also found
guilty; two of them, Nguyen Phong and Nguyen Binh Thanh, were sentenced to six
and five years imprisonment respectively, two others were given suspended
prison terms The two women's suspended prison terms were of two years and 18
months respectively. Additionally, they were sentenced to a "test
period" of three years and 18 months respectively, a sort of probation
under the supervision of local authorities..
The one-day trial against Father Nguyen Van Ly, who now for the fourth time
became a prisoner of conscience, was the first of several trials expected to
take place in the months ahead against people who have publicly called for
political change or respect for human rights. This crackdown follows a period
of relative ease in terms of restricting civil and political rights during
which the authorities organized and hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) forum in November, lobbied and achieved Permanent Normal
Trade Relation status with the
On 10 April 2007, President Nguyen Minh Triet applauded the success of the APEC
forum, which in the words of the APEC Chairman Le Cong Phung "has created
a positive image of an active, open and safe country." Amnesty
International believes that the ongoing crackdown with its clear violations of
international human rights law is now creating a sharply contrasting image.
The first of a wave of arrests took place around the time of the APEC forum,
when four leading members of the newly formed United Workers-Farmers
Organisation (UWFO) were taken in by security officials. Established in October
2006, the UWFO advocates for the right to form and join independent trade and
labour unions, which are not allowed under Vietnamese national law. No formal
charges have been brought against them, but accusations by authorities have
reportedly related to "conducting propaganda" against the state
(Article 88 of the Penal Code).
The most recent publicly known arrest was on 21 April 2007 of novelist and
journalist Tran Khai Thanh Thuy for "distorting the social, political and
economic situation of Vietnam, denouncing Vietnam for human rights violations,
putting the articles on the internet or sending them overseas to exile
reactionary organisations," according to state controlled media. Vietnam
arrests dissident woman writer, AFP, 23 April 2007
Another recent arrest was of lawyer Le Quoc Quan, who was taken away by police
on 8 March after returning from a year-long fellowship in the
Le Quoc Quan is not the only lawyer to be facing serious criminal charges for
peacefully expressing opinions. At least four other lawyers have been arrested,
including the two human rights lawyers Le Thi Cong Nhan and Nguyen Van Dai.
Like Father Ly, Van Dai was among the original signatories of an Internet based
petition which formed Bloc 8406. Le Thi Cong Nhan, a spokesperson for the
Progression Party, had been the state-appointed legal counsel for a British
citizen charged with heroin smuggling. Just days before the trial in November
2006, Le Thi Cong Nhan was placed under house arrest while another lawyer took
over the case; on 6 March Le Thi Cong Nhan was arrested together with Nguyen
Van Dai. They are both facing charges under Article 88, and are reportedly not
allowed to receive any visitors. The Progression Party is only one of many
opposition parties that have emerged in breach of national law, which allows
only the ruling Communist Party of Viet Nam.
A fifth lawyer, Bui Thi Kim Thanh, a land rights activist, was in November 2006
forcibly admitted to Bien Hoa Mental Hospital, 50 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh
City, in what Amnesty International believes is an attempt by the authorities
to punish her for her work on behalf of the Democratic Party.
Numerous others, who are perceived by the authorities as political dissidents,
are under house arrest, under surveillance, have had phone lines cut off,
computers confiscated or have been harassed and interrogated by government
officials. Even relatives of activists have been pressured by officials into
ensuring that their activist family member ends his or her activities.
The politically-motivated charges against Father Ly, Le Thi Cong Nhan and
others are a campaign by authorities to silence these critical voices and to
scare other potential critics of the government into silence. Amnesty
International calls on the Vietnamese authorities to honour its international
human rights obligations by releasing all prisoners of conscience, including
those who are facing criminal charges for having peacefully expressed their
opinions. The organisation also calls for an end to all harassment against
other peaceful critics.
In view of the fact that the Vietnamese Penal Code criminalises peaceful
dissent -- in breach of international law -- Amnesty International calls on the
authorities to urgently reform the many ambiguous provisions relating to
national security and ensure they are either removed or brought into line with
Background
The rights to freedom of expression and assembly are guaranteed under the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The covenant is
binding on
Father Nguyen Van Ly has already spent around 15 years in prison for peacefully
criticizing government policies on religion and advocating for greater respect
for human rights since the late 1970's. He was one of the architects behind an
on-line petition which was launched on 8 April 2006 and signed by 118 democracy
activists calling for peaceful political change and respect for human rights in
Viet Nam. The petition quickly attracted more signatories and its launch marked
the effective creation of an Internet based pro-democracy movement, Bloc 8406.
Known arrests of peaceful critics from November 2006 and onwards, age and
affiliation (when known):
Bui Kim Thanh, 47 Democratic Party of Viet Nam
Doan Huy Chuong, 21 UWFO
Doan Van Dien, 52 UWFO
Hoang Thi Anh Dao, 21 Progression Party, Lac Hong group
Hong Trung, 45 Vi Dan Party, Lac Hong group
Le Quoc Quan, 36 Affiliation not known
Le Thi Cong Nhan, 28 Progression Party
Le Thi Le Hang, 44 Progression Party
Le Van Sy People's Democratic Party
Nguyen Bac Truyen, 37 People's Democratic Party
Nguyen Binh Thanh, 51 Progression Party, Lac Hong group
Nguyen Phong, 32 Progression Party, Lac Hong group
Nguyen Tan Hoanh, 22 UWFO
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Affiliation not known
Nguyen Tuan People's Democratic Party
Nguyen Van Dai, 38 Bloc 8406, Committee for Human Rights in Viet Nam
Nguyen Van Ly , 60 Progression Party, Bloc 8406
Phan Van Loi Bloc 8406
Tran Khai Thanh Thuy Affiliation not known
Tran Quoc Hien UWFO
Tran Thi Le Hang, 47 UWFO
Tran Thuy Trang Affiliation not known.-
