June 24, 2009
Since last September there have been four protesters arrested according to Article 88 of the Penal Code. They are Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Pham Thanh Nghien, Pham Van Troi, and teacher Vu Hung They have been imprisoned twice before for a four month period and have recently started a third term of imprisonment for another four months.
9 months without social interaction
Among the four persons mentioned above, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Nghia and Ms. Pham Thanh Nghien are from Hai Phong and the other two (Pham Van Troi and Vu Hung) are from Ha Tay. Out of the four prisoners, the officers only allowed Nguyen Xuan Nghia and Pham Van Troi to meet with their families.
Ms Pham Thanh Nghien’s mother: She’s still in Hai Phong. I have been asking them to sign a visiting form but they said she was sent to the Procuracy. There is no point for me to visit because no one would take my form. A monthly supply is still being given however.
Gia Minh: What did they say about her health status, Madam?
Ms Pham Thanh Nghien’s mother: They didn’t say anything about it.
Mrs Ly Thi Tuyet Mai, wife of lecturer Vu Hung: I haven’t met with him for over nine months now. I still go to the prison camp with a monthly supply. They told me that my husband was doing fine.
Gia Minh: Do you know why you are not allowed to see your husband?
Mrs Ly Thi Tuyet Mai: Well, they said that his case is still under investigation and family contact is not yet allowed. They want him to say who was with him, who took the photos, and who else was involved, or who led him. He said he was the only one who did it and didn’t know who brought up all the photos and news.
Nine months without seeing lawyers
Mrs Nguyen Thi Nga: My husband is still in the prison camp B14 of the Ministry of Defence in Hanoi. I have written them a letter asking for a family visit a while ago, and just got their reply yesterday, saying: ” with Nguyen Xuan Nghia and the involved, their profiles have been taken to the High People’s Procuracy, so write to them instead should you wish.”
However I haven’t had a chance to go the People’s Procuracy to ask about my husband. With such a reply I don’t know when I can meet my husband again.
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang shared her latest visit with her husband in the prison camp:
Mrs Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang: : I have just been permitted to see my husband in the prison camp B14 on the 9th of June. We were allowed a half an hour talk. Inspector Dao Hong Son said that we could have half an hour to talk and were allowed to discuss the matter of consulting a lawyer.
Troi told me that his case has been closed and documents have been sent to the People’s Procuracy. At this moment he has not yet been approved to see a lawyer nor is a lawyer allowed to come see him. He wishes to consult his lawyer in the nearest time possible.
Those whose family members have been imprisoned according to Article 88 Penal Code have consulted lawyers for a defense for their loved ones. The families of Ms. Pham Thanh Nghien and Pham Van Troi acknowledged that they chose lawyer, Le Tran Luat.
We have contacted him, but have had no news yet as he has been busy with some other cases. If the police officers approve they will help with Hung’s case.
Ms Pham Thanh Nghien’s mother: We have invited Mr. Le Tran Luat to be our lawyer but I heard he was arrested yesterday.
Mrs Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang: I had a talk with lawyer Le Tran Luat, but I still haven’t been allowed to see my husband Troi lately.
Meanwhile Mrs Nguyen Thi Nga, Nguyen Xuan Nghia’s wife, did not want to tell which lawyer she has seen:
Mrs Nguyen Th Nga: We have consulted a lawyer but I don’t want to reveal his name just yet.
Family members have denied the prisoners’ commitment to illegal activities as stated by the officers.
They believed that their daughter or husbands have told the truth, and that those who are still in prison camp have insisted they did not break any law, and shared their wishes for a fair and open trial.
Note that Nguyen Xuan Nghia and Ms. Pham Thanh Nghien, together with Mr. Vu Cao Quan from Hai Phong, used to write to the People’s Council of Hanoi, applying for permission stage a protest against inflation and people’s hardships. Particularly Ms. Pham Thanh Nghien and Mr. Vu Hung also voiced out against the fact that China took over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa which are supposed to belong to Vietnam. Mr. Pham Van Troi is personally a member of the movement for democracy and freedom in Vietnam, which is Bloc 8406.
