To the;
Honorable Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren,
Honorable Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez,
Honorable Congressman Christopher Smith
Honorable Congressman Tom Davis
Vietnam – June 15, 2008 – After Vietnam has entered the world trade organizations (WTO); its name has been removed from the countries of particular concern (CPC) list since 2006. The Ha Noi authorities have systematically cracked down hard on Vietnamese dissidents, continuing to violently suppress innocent people.
Recently, many dissidents, students and farmers such as Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Nguyen Tien Nam, Vu Hung, Ngo Quynh, and Le Thi Kim Thu daring to protest, to ask for freedom of expression were detained and brutally beaten.
Some of them such as Vi Duc Hoi, Le Thanh Tung, Nguyen Thuong Long, were victimized by authorities using “terrorizing tactics” and “popular court” practices, aimed to dehumanize individuals through public humiliation and intimidation. Currently, Lawyer Bui Thi Kim Thanh, Blogger “Dieu Cay” Nguyen Van Hai, Ngo Luot, Luong Van Sinh, Ho Thi Bich Khuong, and many others were harassed, intimidated and detained. Some were tried arbitrarily sentenced.
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s Constitution declares the “right of freedom of expression, right of freedom of press, right of freedom of exchange of information and right to form association and demonstration” in Article 69. These basic human rights, according to The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18, 19 and 20 confirm that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion,” ” Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression,” and “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association”.
We believe that Vietnam needs to openly change both economically and politically in order to bring the country closer to successful reform. Therefore, to advocate freedom of expression and freedom of association by peaceful means are both legal acts towards the establishment of fundamental rights that support Vietnam for further improvement. However, the Vietnamese Communist Party has ignored these basic human rights; they continue to crack down, using terror, violent suppression and harsh sentences to silence us.
We call on Vietnam ’s government to stop using force to attack pro-democracy activists; to stop preventing us from seeking employment; and to end all arbitrary detentions.
We call on Vietnam ’s government to respect human rights; to accept open and direct dialogue with pro-democracy activists and opposing political groups.
We call on Vietnam ’s government to release all non-violent political prisoners and current detainees including:
Father Nguyen Van Ly
Lawyers Nguyen Van Dai
Lawyer Le Thi Cong Nhan
Lawyer Tran Quoc Hien
Lawyer Nguyen Bac Truyen
Lawyer Bui Kim Thanh
Dr. Le Nguyen Sang
Journalist Huynh Nguyen Dao
Nguyen Phong
Truong Minh Duc
Pham Ba Hai
Nguyen Ngoc Quang
Truong Quoc Huy
Hang Tan Phat
Doan Van Dien
Tran Thi Le Hong
Luong Van Sinh
Blogger “Dieu Cay” Nguyen Van Hai
Journalist Nguyen Van Hai
Journalist Nguyen Viet Chien
And all others.
We call on the U.S. Congress, the Senate and the U.S. Government to continue to support us in promoting democracy and human rights for Vietnam .
Respectively yours,
Father Chan Tin, Sai Gon , Vietnam
Dang Thi Thong, Thai Binh, Vietnam
Do Binh, Hai Phong , Vietnam
Do Duy Thong, Ha Tay , Vietnam
Blogger “Trang Đem”, Ho Diep, Sai Gon, Vietnam
Lawyer Le Quoc Quan, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Le Thi Kim Thu, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Ngo Quynh, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Nguyen Ba Dang, Ha Tay, Vietnam
Nguyen Duc Tinh, Hai Phong , Vietnam
Nguyen Manh Son, Hai Phong , Vietnam
Father Nguyen Huu Giai, Hue , Vietnam
Nguyen Huu Tien, Hai Phong , Vietnam
Engineer Nguyen Phuong Anh, Ha Noi , Vietnam
Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu, Sai Gon , Vietnam
Teacher Nguyen Thuong Long, Ha Tay , Vietnam
Nguyen Tien Nam, Yen Bai, Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Giang, Ph.D, Ha Noi , Vietnam
Nguyen Thi Thuan, Vinh Phuc , Vietnam
Writer Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Hai Phong , Vietnam
Nguyen Van Tuc, Thai Binh, Vietnam
Engineer Pham Duc Chinh, Ha Noi , Vietnam
Pham Thanh Nghien, Hai Phong , Vietnam
Pham Trung Kien, Hai Phong , Vietnam
Lawyer Phan Thanh Hai, Thu Duc, Sai Gon Vietnam
Father Phan Van Loi, Hue , Vietnam
Film Director Song Chi, Sai Gon , Vietnam
Ta Phong Tan, Sai Gon , Vietnam
Poet Tran Duc Thach, Nghe An, Vietnam
Writer Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, Ha Noi , Vietnam
Tran Thi Thuy, Dong Thap, Vietnam
Tran Thi Le, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Blogger – Poet Uyen Vu, Sai Gon , Vietnam
Vi Duc Hoi, Lang Son, Vietnam
Vu Cao Quan, Hai Phong , Vietnam
Teacher Vu Manh Hung, Ha Tay , Vietnam
Vu Thi Ut Hanh, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Teacher Vu Van Hung, Ha Tay , Vietnam
