4 November 2011
Nguyen Tan Dung
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Office of the State
Hanoi, Vietnam
Dear Prime Minister,
I write to express my deepest concern for the wellbeing of 13 youth activists currently held incommunicado in Vietnam. These youth advocates for social change, most belonging to the Congretation of the Most Holy Redeemer and hailing from the Vinh Diocese, were arrested beginning July 30, 2011.
As of now, 13 are detained: Chu Manh Son, Dang Xuan Dieu, Dau Van Duong, Ho Duc Hoa, Ho Van Oanh, Nguyen Van Duyet, Nguyen Van Oai, Nguyen Xuan Anh, Nong Hung Anh, Paulus Le Van Son, Thai Van Dung, Tran Huu Duc, and Tran Minh Nhat.
It is with great disappointment that we receive reports of their arbitrary arrests. According to human rights organizations, these young activists are noted bloggers, community organizers, and faithful parishioners. According to family sources, their detentions came without any official notification or explanation.
I remind you that these acts violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, I ask that your government provides these youths with the protection that the covenant guarantees. I ask that they are allowed unrestricted access to lawyers, visitations from their families and friends, and that their health and wellbeing is assured.
I continue to be deeply troubles by ongoing violations of religious freedom in Vietnam. The continued detention of these religious activists questions the pratice of freedom of religion in Viet Nam.
I call on you to unconditionally and immediately release these yound human rights defenders and return them to their families and communities.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely
Ian M Britza, Mla
State Member of Parliament
Western Australia