27 September 2013
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Hoang Van Thu Street
HA NOI
VIET NAM
Dear Prime Minister,
I have been approached by my Australian-Vietnamese constituents regarding your Government’s arrest of human rights lawyer, Le Quoc Quan, in December 2012.
Mr Quan is a Human rights attorney and a renowed democracy activist as a fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy in the US (2006-2007). He conducted research in civil society and published a blog on current issues. He has also become a prominent voice for social justice and human rights.
I understand that Mr Quan was arrested over claims of tax evasion and was scheduled to be on trial in early July 2013. This however did not go ahead as one day prior to the trial, the People’s Court of Hanoi announced that the presiding Judge had fallen ill.
I find it deeply concerning that Mr Quan continues to be held virtually incommunicado and that recent reports state that his trial will be scheduled for Wednesday, 2nd October 2013. Many international human rights groups have called on your Government to drop these politically motivated charges. According to these NGOs, Mr Quan has been denied visits over the last ten months.
Once again, I call upon your Government to adhere to the international commitments in protecting human rights and religious freedom and request an unconditional release of Le Quoc Quan.
Yours Sincerely,
Luke Simpkins MP
Federal Member for Cowan