FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vietnam, Feb.25, 2008
To:
-
News Media Groups
-
International Human Rights Organizations
-
Whom it may concern
Re: To
Protest the Appeal Trial’s Sentences of UWFOV’s members
On the Appeal Trial
in February 25, 2008, the Supreme
Court in Ho
Chi Minh City has sentenced members of The United
Workers-Farmers Organization of Viet Nam (UWFOV) also known as members of The
People's Democratic Party as followed ruling:
Mr.
Doan Van Dien: 4 years and 6 months of
imprisonment, no sentence's reduction.
Mrs.
Tran Thi Le Hong (Le Hang): 3 years of
imprisonment, no sentence's reduction.
Ms.
Nguyen Thi Tuyet: 1 year and 6 months of
imprisonment, no sentence's reduction.
Mr.
Doan Huy Chuong (aka Nguyen Tan Hoanh): 1
year and 6 months of imprisonment, no sentence's reduction.
In addition, Mr. Phung Quang Huyen also was brought into the Appeal trial and sentenced 1 year and 6
month of imprisonment, no sentence's reduction.
Without inform the
UWFOV family’s members regarding the schedule of Appeal trial on February 25,
2008. Hanoi government silently brought these labor activists to trial,
intentionally to cover up their unlawful tactics in order to get away from
international media and public’s attentions. We strongly condemn the Appeal
trial’s sentences and protest the illegal and unfair tactic of the so-called
The Supreme Court.
Again, Vietnam is still in
violation of every basic human rights where labor activists’ rights were
denied. We call on international human rights organizations to denounce these
sentences as Ha Noi government continues using harsh sentence to discourage the
labor activists. We call on the U.S. congressional members urgently pass the
Vietnam Human Rights Act H.R. 3096 to support the democracy and human rights in
Vietnam.
Best Regards,
Nam Tran, spokesperson of the People's Democratic Party
Background: Members of the People's
Democratic Party formed the UWFOV on October, 2006 to fight for Workers and
Farmers' Rights. After publicly releasing its statement, UWFOV's leading
members including Mr. Nguyen Tan Hoanh, Mrs. Tran Thi Le Hang, Mr. Doan Van
Dien and Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet all were arrested and incarcerated at B5
Dong Nai prison, Viet Nam. On Dec, 2006 UWFOV' spokesperson, Lawyer Tran Quoc
Hien was arrested and sentenced with 5 years of imprisonment.
Viet
Tan (
With members inside
Viet Tan aims to establish democracy and reform the country through peaceful
means.
www.viettan.org
February 22,
2008
Contact:
Duy Hoang +1 (202) 470-1678
Chi Dang +1 (408) 228-4892
Norwegian MP visits
Vietnamese democracy activists
Following a protest letter on January 29 from 20 Norwegian MPs
to
During the five days from February 18-22, Gitmark met in Saigon
with relatives of Nguyen The Vu and Nguyen Viet Trung and in
In the meeting with the family of Nguyen The Vu and Nguyen Viet
Trung, Mr. Gitmark listened as the relatives discussed the legal status and
health of the two brothers. Mr. Gitmark stated that international opinion,
especially in
In the meeting with Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, Mr. Gitmark heard how
her entire family was harassed and intimidated before and after she was in
prison. She declared that her release was not by the good will of the regime,
but because of the efforts of Vietnamese living in and outside the country, and
the international community. The constant pressure from all sides on the
Mr. Gitmark's trip sparked interest from Hanoi-based foreign
journalists and overseas Vietnamese media. On the morning of February 22, Peter
Gitmark, Tran Khai Thanh Thuy and Vo Hong participated in an informal press
meeting in
Peter Gitmark expressed admiration for the courage of Vietnamese
democracy activists. With this trip, he wanted to further remind the
Tran Khai Thanh Thuy told how touched she was to meet with
parliamentarian Peter Gitmark and Vo Hong. The visit helped her stay resolute.
She declared that she would maintain her efforts and not allow herself to be
silenced. She would continue, along with fellow democracy activists, to work
for the day
Vo Hong discussed her deep respect for the difficulties and
sacrifices of the democracy activists and their families, especially for the
hardships that few people are aware. As a member of Viet Tan, Ms. Hong said she
was proud and happy to be in
###
-- Angelina Do
www.viettan.org
Viet Tan is a pro-democracy group. In Vietnamese, the union of "
Viet Tan has a network of members around the world and underground in
Viet Tan relies on an underground newspaper, the internet, and a nightly
one-hour AM broadcast (Radio New Horizon) to spread its message in
