Australia’s Members of Parliament sign letter regarding dire human rights situation in Vietnam

More than 60 Members of Australian Parliament have signed a letter to the Australian Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam regarding the dire human rights situation in Vietnam. Initiated by the Hon. Tim Wilson MP and the Hon. Chris Hayes MP and signed by Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Greens and Independent parties of the House of Representatives urged the Vietnamese government to honour its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

26 October 2017

His Excellency Ngo Huong Nam
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Australia
PO Box 98
Mawson ACT 2607

Your Excellency

We express our deep concern regarding Vietnam’s human rights defenders, bloggers and social activists who have been arrested and sentenced to lengthy prison sentences for exercising their right to free expression.

This year alone, there have been more than 20 activists who have been arrested, exiled or issued arrest warrants in one of the largest crackdowns to date. Many of these activists have been charged under vague laws quoting national security such as “attempting to overthrow the state” or “conducting propaganda against the state”.

Many of these human rights defenders remain detained without trial. Prominent Vietnamese human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai was arrested in December 2015 with no trial date set. It is worrying that five of his colleagues; Pham Van Troi, Truong Minh Duc, Nguyen Bac Truyen, Nguyen Trung Truc and Pastor Nguyen Trung Ton were detained in July, all accused of “attempting to overthrow the state”. Le Dinh Luong, an organiser within the Catholic community who spoke up for affected fishermen of the Formosa toxic chemical spill, was also detained within the same week.

Those who have been trialled this year have been sentenced to long prison terms of up to ten years. Bloggers Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, Tran Thi Nga and Nguyen Van Oai were sentenced in one-day trials for discussing social injustices affecting those around them.

Earlier this year, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention noted that there have been several cases brought before the Working Group in recent years and recognised that the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of persons in Vietnam is a systematic and widespread problem.

We urge the Vietnamese government to honour its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by immediately and unconditionally releasing human rights defenders and citizen journalists mentioned above as well as: Can Thi Theu, Ho Duc Hoa, Nguyen Dang Minh Minh, Nguyen Hoang Quoc Hung, Nguyen Van Hoa, Tran Huynh Duy Thuc and Tran Thi Thuy.

As Vietnam’s economy becomes more integrated within the international community, we believe that sustainable economic and social development can only be achieved by respecting freedoms and protecting those defending basic civil rights.

Yours sincerely,

3. Sharon Bird, Cunningham
4. Justine Elliot, Richmond
5. Michael Danby, Melbourne Ports
6. Anthony Byrne, Holt
7. Peter Khalil, Wills
8. Rob Mitchell, McEwen
9. Anne Aly, Cowan
10. Tim Watts, Gellibrand
11. David Feeney, Batman
12. Matt Heogh, Burt
13. Brian Mitchell, Lyons
14. Joanne Ryan, Lalor
15. Julian Hill, Bruce
16. Adam Bandt, Melbourne
17. Andrew Wilkie, Denison
18. Stephen Jones, Whitlam
19. Amanda Rishworth, Kingston
20. Andrew Leigh, Fenner
21. Claire O’Neil, Hotham
22. Ed Husic, Chifley
23. Shayne Neumann, Blair
24. Catherine King, Ballarat
25. Tanya Plibersek, Sydney
26. Maria Vamvakinou, Calwell
27. Ross Hart, Bass
28. Anne Stanley, Werriwa
29. Mike Freelander, Macarthur
30. Josh Wilson, Fremantle
31. Milton Dick, Oxley
32. Meryl Swanson, Paterson
33. Sharon Claydon, Newcastle
34. Madeleine King, Brand
35. Andrew Giles, Scullin
36. Tony Zappia, Makin
37. Mike Kelly, Eden Monaro
38. Pat Conroy, Shortland
39. Matt Thistlethwaite, Kingsford Smith
40. Julie Owens, Parramatta
41. Gai Brodtmann, Canberra
42. Warren Snowdon, Lingiari
43. Lisa Chesters, Bendigo
44. Terri Butler, Griffith
45. Steve Georganas, Hindmarsh
46. Cathy O’Toole, Herbert
47. Susan Templeman, Macquarie
48. Emma McBride, Dobell
49. Luke Gosling, Solomon
50. Jason Falinski, Mackellar
51. Steve Irons, Swan
52. Craig Kelly, Hughes
53. John McVeigh, Groom
54. Trent Zimmerman, North Sydney
55. Ian Goodenough, Moore
56. John Alexander, Bennelong
57. Ben Morton, Tangney
58. Julian Leeser, Berowra
59. George Christensen, Dawson
60. Llew O’Brien, Wide Bay
61. Kevin Hogan, Page
62. Mark Coulton, Parkes
63. Ken O’Dowd, Flynn
64. David Littleproud, Maranoa
65. Andrew Gee, Calare
66. Michelle Landry, Capricornia
67. Damian Drum, Murray
68. Andrew Hastie, Canning

Australian MPs’ letter (pdf)