Democracy Activist in Vietnam Beaten by Police
Vu Hoang Hai sought medical help after being physically interrogated by the Vietnamese security police from August 4-8, 2006 for his involvement in the Bloc 8406 democracy movement. Based on recent medical records from Saigon General Hospital, Vu Hoang Hai was found to have sustained musculoskeletal injuries to the neck areas.
The medical records on both August 15th and 22nd showed that there was evidence of localized bruising and the X-Ray of his neck revealed that he had cervical stenosis of C5 and C6 vertebrae. There were also osteophytes present in C2 and C3 vertebrae. In addition, Vu Hoang Hai complained of numbness of his left hand, which was most likely caused by nerve entrapment due to his cervical stenosis.
These injuries certainly can be exacerbated by trauma, such as beating or direct physical injuries. He was treated with analgesia and anti-inflammatory medications. Doctors also advised him to wear a neck brace to support his neck and resting. The medical evidence indicates that physical abuse by the police caused significant injuries to Vu Hoang Hai.
We call upon the international community, in particular the democracies attending the APEC summit in Hanoi this November, to demand the Vietnamese communist authorities to cease the persecution of individuals who peacefully express different views.
Attached are medical records of Vu Hoang Hai and his “Report on Physical Abuse by Police” dated August 9, 2006.
For more information, please contact: Dr. Phong Nguyen in Sydney, Australia +61-434-183-144.
125 LE LOI STREET, DISTRICT 1
PHONE: 8291 711
DIAGNOSIS – TREATMENT
No. 56/06/08/2494
Name: Vu Hoang Hai Sex: Male
Date of Birth: 02/12/1965
Address: B243B, Doan Van Bo Street, Zone 18, District 4
Saigon General Hospital Invoice No. 009038
Name: Vu Hoang Hai
Fees: 5000 dong
Medical condition:
Dated 15 month, August, year 2006
Signature of service provider
X-RAY FORM
Name: Vu Hoang Hai D.O.B: 1965 Sex: male
Department: Orthopaedic
Procedures required: X-Ray of C1-C7
Results: Osteophytes in areas of C2 and C3.
Cervical stenosis of C5-C6
Date: 15/08/06
Dr. Hai (signed)
Date: 22/08/06
Diagnosis: Musculoskeletal injuries to neck area.
Need to continue wearing neck brace and require resting.
Medications:
1. Acer, 1 tablet three times a day, after meals.
2. ? Esrusone, 1 tablet three times a day, after meals.
3. Brypsin, 1 tablet three times a day, after meals.
4. ? Zoonals, 1 tablet twice a day, after meals.
Comments:
Need to come back for review in one week, on Tuesday, room 6.
Diagnosis: Cervical stenosis (C5-C6)
Symptoms: Left hand numbness.
Treatment: Neck brace
Medications:
1. Decontractyl, 1 tablet three times a day.
2. Diantalin, 1 tablet three times a day.
3. Diclofenac, 1 tablet twice a day.
4. ?Vit B, 1 tablet three times a day.
Date 15, month August, year 2006.
Examined and managed by Dr. Dao Manh Huan (signed)
Orthopedic Department
MEDICAL INVOICE
| No. | Service | No. | Cost/No. | Total |
| 1 | X-Ray | 4 | 15.000 | 60.000 |
| 2 | Neck brace | 1 | 48.000 | 48.000 |
| Total | 108.000 |
Received on 15/08/2006.
To: All Governmental Authorities
All Media in Vietnam and Abroad
My name: Vu Hoang Hai
Date of birth: December 12, 1965 in Saigon
Address: B243B Doan Van Bo Street, Ward 18, District 4, Saigon
About 5:00pm on August 4, 2006, I was summoned by the local police to be at the police station on August 5th at 8:00am to be questioned regarding my residential permit (ho khau). At the time, I was busy supervising my house renovation and therefore I put the summons in my wallet without much thought. The next morning, I went to the police station on time as per the notice.
When I arrived at the police station, I asked for a policeman called Mr. Tien as requested. They asked me to wait for awhile before directing me upstairs. I was very surprised to see lots of people in the room. All were in civilian clothes and appeared quite cold. They were staring at me. They took photos of me and then asked me to sit opposite from them. In front of me was a list of people who had signed the 2006 Democracy Manifesto with my name, Vu Hoang Hai, highlighted in blue and various articles belonging to an organization called Bach Dang Giang Foundation. After being seated, they asked whether I carried any tape recorder with me! I said no; they then ordered me to stand up and examined me. They also took my cell phone to inspect. The police told me that I had breached national security by setting up Bach Dang Giang Foundation, they said that I am the president of this organization with alias of Trang Thien Long, as well as involved with those that opposed the Socialist Government of Vietnam when I was in a Thailand refugee camp.
After examining my cell phone, they recorded all phone numbers and details of all my recent calls. They ordered me to explain each case. Why did I have this number? When did I have it? For whom? The purpose of each call, especially the numbers belonging to repatriated refugees? Then they confiscated my identity card and their summons notice. I protested this and said that they had abused my basic rights. However, one of the policemen with graying hair and a northern accent came toward me; he swore at me using abusive language, and when I objected he beat me. From then on, he continued to beat me every time my answers were not what he was looking for. I was interrogated from morning until late (more than 18 hours) without any food or water; despite the fact that they did offer it to me, I declined worrying that it may be poisoned. While I was interrogated at the police station, some of the policemen came to my home and told my family that I must co-operate by volunteering any related documents or films; otherwise the entire family would be implicated and also I could be deported from my current residence.
The first day of interrogation was very tense. Whenever I became tired, they would wake me up by yelling and thumping the table, ordering me to face them and answer their questions. In addition, I suffer from hypertension, and therefore I felt like fainting every time they bashed me. When I signaled them to stop the bashing, they often screamed, we are even happier if you die.
While I was being interrogated inside, my wife had to carry my children outside crying for help in the worry that I may die from the worsening hypertension due to the bashing. After the whole day being beaten and psychologically abused, I came home feeling extremely exhausted with aches and pains all over.
The next day (August 6th), I was again summoned to the police station to be interrogated. This time, I was not beaten but because of my hypertension, as well as being starved all day, I fainted and passed out. Despite that, the police only allowed me to rest for a short moment before interrogating me again until 8:00pm.
Similarly, they interrogated in the same manner on August 7th and 8th. However, on August 8th they started to beat me again. At times, they sweet-talked me but at others, they used obscene and abusive language. Fortunately, by that evening some of those from Bloc 8406 visited and arranged for help from the media and various governmental departments to intervene.
Currently, my life is seriously threatened and my family is constantly being intimidated. I respectively call upon all organizations and media outlets in Vietnam and abroad to immediately intervene, so that my basic rights are respected; the rights that God has given to all human beings.
I sincerely appreciate all your help.
Saigon, August 9, 2006
Vu Hoang Hai
