July 20, 2012
Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung
Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
16 Le Hong Phong St.
Ba Dinh District, Ha Hanoi
Viet Nam
Dear Mr Nguyen Tan Dung,
I write with regards to Ms Tran Thi Thuy of Ben Tre pronvince.
I read with disappointment that Ms Tran Thi Thuy has been imprisoned recently for political reasons and that she may have been subjected to violence and inhumane conditions at the hands of the Vietnamese authorities.
Regardless of anyone’s guilty or innocence and regardless of anyone’s crime, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights prohibits anyone being subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
I also find it alarming that Tran Thi Thuy may also have been subjected to forced labor, namely husking and skining cashew nuts, which has now caused caustic burns on her skin and generally causing her ill-health. Furthermore, if Tran Thi Thuy is experiencing any medical difficulties whatsoever then should not be refused the appropriate medical treaments.
I am aware that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that the Government of Vietnam has violated international law in Tran Tran Thi Thuy’s case. Such a ruling doesn’t reflect well on the state of justice and liberty in Vietnam, which is a shame given the natural beauty of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people.
I urgently call on your government to release all political prisoners and activists in Vietnam and to ensure that all people in Vietnamese prisons have received a fair trial and that their treatment is as according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Australian Government and the international community will continue to take notice of Tran Thi Thuy’s case and those of all other peaceful activists. I hope that Tran Thi Thuy and her colleagues will be released as soon as possible.
Kind Regards,
Luke Donnellan MP
State Member of Narre Warren North