Open Letter regarding Mr. Dang Xuan Dieu and other prisoners of conscience

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on print
Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on print

October 17, 2014

On January 9, 2013, Vietnamese people inside the country and abroad as well as many international human rights organisations were outraged over the sham and unfair trial that the Vietnamese Communist government propped up to sentence 14 Catholic-Protestant youths of Nghe An. They were charged under Article 79 of the Penal Code, “attempting to overthrow the government”, which carries harsh sentences (a total of 83 years in prison, 42 years of house arrest). In fact, they were merely peaceful human rights and pro-democracy activists. The public paid special attention to three people with the most severe sentences (13 years in prison, 5 years house arrest). They are Mr. Ho Duc Hoa, Mr. Dang Xuan Dieu and Mr. Le Van Son (Son’s sentence was later reduced by the court of appeals).

Furthermore, during their jail term, these prisoners of conscience are often subjected to brutal abuses by the prison guards. These are means to take revenge on their patriotic protests and to force them pleading guilty. Abuses such as being clamped and shackled in solitary confinement, deprivation of food and water, lack of access to medical treatment, locked away in jail cells of unsanitary conditions, beaten or tortured by other jailed criminals, ban from visit or writing to family, ignoring prisoner’s request or appeal, and forbidden from any religious activities… These inhumane and lawless treatments have led to many protests by prisoners of conscience, usually via prolonged, life-threatening hunger strikes.

Through the testimony of family and a recently released fellow inmate, the public is alarmed about the tragic case of Mr. Dang Xuan Dieu, who is currently in solitary confinement at Camp 5 Prison, Yen Dinh district, Thanh Hoa province.

First of all, with indomitable spirit, this prisoner of conscience has never pleaded guilty of any wrong-doing, so adamantly that he has denied the legality of the trial, and refused to even appeal his case. He also refused to wear a prison uniform with the label “Prisoner”. In addition, he has sent a letter of protest to the Minister of Public Security of Vietnam, but has never received any reply.

JPEG - 19.7 kb
Human rights defender Mr. Dang xuan Dieu is subjected to inhuman and cruel treatment in prison.

Since the transfer to Camp 5, Yen Dinh, Thanh Hoa (after the preliminary hearing), he was not only denied visit from his family, but also placed in continuous solitary confinement, subjected to beatings by prison guards. In one instance, he was jailed together with a convicted murderer for half a year (April 22nd to October 23rd, 2013) during which time Dieu was forced to serve as a “slave” to him. He had also been confined to a “chamber of discipline”, there he was shackled, without any bedding, bathe and drank only contaminated water and living in ultimate filth.

Because of his fight, mainly through hunger strikes, for prisoner’s rights, dignity and against an inhuman and cruel legal system, Mr. Dang Xuan Dieu has constantly been subjected to brutal attack from the prison guards. Dieu’s health is deteriorating and his life is in constant danger, while at home, his 70 years old mother has fallen seriously ill because of the anxiety and grief for her son.

In the face of this tragic case, a typical case of thousands of prisoners in Communist prison labor camps, we, the Vietnam Interfaith Council:

- Strongly oppose Vietnam regime’s policy of imprisonment aimed to punish, seek revenge, exploit prisoners’ labor, especially prisoners of conscience, and utilizing every violent and despicable means to force these prisoners to plead guilty.

- Strongly denounce the lies commonly used by communist officials of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in claiming that the prison policies are always humane. Perhaps, this only occurs in certain places where prison guards may have unintentionally doing so or due to their lack of understanding.

- Urgently alert the international community about the many cases in Vietnam, where prisoners were jailed to death (Truong Van Suong, Nguyen Van Trai…), poisoned in detention (Mr. Dinh Dang Dinh, Mr. Huynh Anh Tri…), released in severe health condition (Mr. Nguyen Huu Cau, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Nam…), psychologically and physically abused indomitable prisoners (Father Nguyen Van Ly, Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh, Ms. Mai Thi Dung, Ms. Duong Thi Tron, Mr. Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Mr. Dang Xuan Dieu, bloggers Mr. Nguyen Van Hai, Ms. Ta Phong Tan, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Quoc Hung, Mr. Dinh Nguyen Kha, union worker Mr. Doan Huy Chuong…) and many other prisoners of conscience.

Prepared in Vietnam and dated October 17th, 2014, on the occasion of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visiting the supreme spiritual leader of the Catholic Church Pope Francis.

Vietnam Interfaith Council

Catholic:

  • Father Phêrô Phan Van Loi (phone: 0984.236.371)
  • Father Giuse Đinh Huu Thoai (phone: 0935.569.205)
  • Father Antôn Le Ngoc Thanh (phone: 0993.598.820)

Buddhist:

  • Venerable Thich Khong Tanh (phone: 0165.6789.881)
  • Venerable Thich Vien Hy (phone: 0937.777.312)

Protestant:

  • Pastor Nguyen Hoang Hoa (phone: 0121.9460.045)
  • Pastor Đinh Uy (phone: 0163.5847.464)
  • Pastor Đinh Thanh Truong (phone: 0120.2352.348)
  • Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang (phone: 0978.207.007)
  • Pastor Pham Ngoc Thach (phone: 0912.000.709)
  • Pastor Nguyen Trung Ton (phone: 0906.342.908)
  • Pastor Nguyen Manh Hung (phone: 0906.342.908)
  • Pastor Le Quang Du (phone: 0121.2002.001)

Cao Dai:

  • Sub-dignitary Hua Phi (phone: 0163.3273.240)
  • Sub-dignitary Nguyen Kim Lan (phone: 0988.971.117)
  • Sub-dignitary Nguyen Bach Phung (phone: 0988.477.719)

Hoa Hao Buddhist:

  • Chairman Le Quang Liem (phone: 0199.2432.593)
  • Mr. Phan Tan Hoa (phone: 0162.6301.082)
  • Mr. Tong Van Chinh (phone: 0163.5745.430)
  • Mr. Le Van Soc (phone: 096.4199.039)
Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on print

LATEST ARTICLES