The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
19 May 2011
Dear Minister
Recently I met with Dr Phong Nguyen and Mr Tan Anh Nguyen who are active members of our community and associated with Viet Tan, an organisation dedicated to promoting human rights in Vietnam.
During my meeting, the Viet Tan representatives raised the matter of Cu Huy Ha Vu, a Vietnamese legal scholar who was recently convicted for propaganda against the State.
Mr Vu was first arrested in 2009 after his attempt to initiate legal action following the approval of controversial Chinese built bauxite mining project in the Central Highlands. Mr Vu attempted to argue that the project violated environmental protection, national security and cultural heritage laws.
A year later, Mr Vu was again arrested for challenging the constitutional validity of a prohibition against class actions being taken in the courts. Mr Vu attempted to argue that such a prohibition violated the constitutional guarantee of the right to “gather, form groups and protest in conformity with the law.”
I am concerned that following a trial that lasted only several hours, Mr Vu was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, followed by a further three years of probation.
As Vietnam is a signatory to the International Convention of Civil & Political rights, could you advise whether Australia would voice its concerns to the Vietnamese government concerning what appears to be a serious abuse of human rights.
Yours sincerely,
Chris Hayes, MP