To: Religious and Human Rights Organizations, Media Organizations and all concerned citizens
My name is Duong Manh Hung, residing at 37/6 block 33, section 28, Binh Thanh district, HCM City . My father, Rev. Duong Kim Khaiwas taken away by the police on Aug. 10, 2010 and continues to be detained to this day.
Since my father’s sudden arrest, my mother’s mental state has deteriorated and her health has worsened. Being only 17 and in 12th grade, my education has suffered in my father’s absence while my mother is seriously ill. My father was the sole breadwinner in our family and the primary caregiver of my mother since she suffered a stroke. Without him, I have great difficulties caring for my bedridden mother, especially in feeding her and attending to her personal needs. My education was often interrupted because of this situation and most likely I will have to drop out of school to take care of my family’s problems. So far, I was able to get by with the help of the priests and members of the congregation as well as my father’s friends and other benefactors.
As dire as my circumstances are, I can manage but I cannot handle the pain of losing my father, especially since we have had no word from him for 3 months. This is why I am writing to all people and organizations who believe in justice to please intervene on my father’s behalf. We want news from my father and to be allowed to visit him and most of all we want him to be set free because we believe in his innocence. My father did not break the law because he believes in God and spreads His word to every one and everywhere.
My father did not break the law when he helped downtrodden people who unjustly lost their land and their home.
My father did not break the law when he believes in human rights and tries to make human rights become meaningful in Vietnam.
Yet he was arrested and completely cut off from his family. On advice from several members of our congregation who know the law, we wrote to the Minister of Public Security and to the Chief Justice of the People’s Supreme Court to complain about this violation of the law by the police with regard to my father’s imprisonment, especially his total isolation and lack of visitation.
I am enclosing the letter of complaint mentioned above and am appealing to all international religious and human rights organizations to please intervene with the state of VN on my father’s behalf. My family and I are deeply grateful to you.
Hochiminh-city, November 29, 2010
Duong Manh Hung
