November 4,2009
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
c/o Embassy of Vietnam
1233 20th Street NW #400
Washington, DC 20036
Dear Prime Minister Dung:
We are writing to express our serious concerns regarding the recent arrest of writer Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, as well as the sentencing of nine democracy activists.
As you are aware, from October 6th – 10th, nine activists were convicted and sentenced to prison for violating Vietnamese anti-propaganda laws. After expressing her support for the activists, Mrs. Thuy was beaten and arrested. This comes within weeks of Vietnam’s recent Universal Periodic Review by the United Nations, in which the country rejected proposals to allow public dissent and to release peaceful prisonels. We are extremely concerned about what appears to be an increase in human rights violations in a country we have already expressed concern about numerous times.
We would like to hear from you directly regarding these convictions and the arrest of Tran Khai Thanh Thuy. Specifically, we would like to know why these individuals have been arrested and jailed when it appears that they were merely peacefully expressing their right to free speech. We look forward to your timely response.
Sincerely,
Zoe Lofgren
Member of Congress
Loretta Sanchez
Member of Congress
Frank Wolf
Member of Congress