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VIETNAM: Prominent activist sentenced
PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee | 20 April 2011 RAN 17/11
PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee strongly protests the harsh seven year prison sentence handed to dissident writer and activist Cu Huy Ha Vu on 4 April 2011. PEN is calling for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Viet Nam is a signatory. It also seeks assurances of his well-being in detention.
Leading human rights defender and environmental activist, Cu Huy Ha Vu, was arrested on 5 November 2010 after publishing many critical articles online and giving interviews to foreign media. He was convicted of “conducting propaganda against the state” by a court in Ha Noi on 4 April 2011 and sentenced to seven years in prison and three years of house arrest at a trial which reportedly fell short of international standards of fairness.
Vu is the son of a celebrated poet who was also a leading revolutionary and confidante of the late President Ho Chi Minh. He is known for his environmental activism, and had previously twice sued the Prime Minister in an attempt to stop a controversial bauxite mining project which he believed would be harmful to the environment.
Dissident writers Pham Hong Son and Le Quoc Quan,both former main cases of PEN International, were reportedly arrested outside the court as they tried to observe Vu’s trial. They were held until 13 April 2011 before being released without charge.
Dozens of peaceful political critics and activists have been sentenced to long prison terms in Viet Nam since its government began a concerted crackdown on freedom of expression in October 2009. They include pro-democracy activist and former Communist Party official Vi Duc Hoi, sentenced to eight years in prison and five years’ probationary detention on 26 January 2011 for posting articles online calling for democracy.
For further background information please see:
Human Rights Watch:
Please send appeals:
- Protesting the harsh sentenced handed down to dissident writer and activist Cu Huy Ha Vu solely for the peaceful expression of his views;
- Expressing serious concern about the large numbers of peaceful dissidents and internet writers currently detained in Viet Nam, many of whom are serving lengthy sentences;
- Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of dissident writer Cu Huy Ha Vu and all those currently detained in Vietnam in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Vietnam is a signatory;
- Seeking assurances of his well-being in detention, and assurances that he has full access to family visits and any necessary medical care.
Appeals to be sent to:
His Excellency Nguyên Minh Triêt
President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
C/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Hanoi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Nguyên Tân Dung
Prime Minister
1 Hoang Hoa Tham Street
Hanoi
SocialistRepublic of Vietnam
Please note that there are no fax numbers available for the Vietnamese authorities, so you may wish to ask the diplomatic representative for Vietnam in your country to forward your appeals. It would also be advantageous to ask your country’s diplomatic representatives in Vietnam to intervene in the case.
For some Vietnamese embassies in the world:
* Please contact the PEN WiPC office in London if sending appeals after 31 May 2011
For further information please contact Cathy McCann at International PEN Writers in Prison Committee, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email: cathy.mccann@pen-internationalpen.org
