February 15, 2007
It is two days until the Lunar New Year, but Bui Thi Kim Ngan couldn’t think of the nation’s largest and most important holiday for her husband, journalist Nguyen Vu Binh, is still being held in isolation at a prison in Nam Ha – Viet Nam.
Crying as she speaks of her husband’s health. At the last visit which took place a few day ago, Nguyen Vu Binh could not even hold his 5 years old daughter in his arms as he normally does; Binh walks in a crippling manner, and his back curved downward.
Talking is a difficult task. Binh has to stops talking every few minutes to catch his breath before he could go on, and he looks as if he has lost a lot of weigh compared to the visit on January 7th, 2007.
It has been over a month since Binh complained to the prison warden that he has severe pain in the chest and waist, but his call for help is ignored. Journalist Nguyen Vu Binh is reportedly to also suffering from high blood pressure and chronic digestive diseases.
Communications about Binh’s health were kept from him as physician only discusses about Binh’s health with the prison guards. Binh once over heard the physician whom was conducting an ultrasound procedure on him said that “this man has fat in his liver.” Binh later asked the prison guard of the physician’s comment, but no one would discuss with him about his health.
Nguyen Vu Binh, 38, was recognized by the Human Right Watch with the 2007 Hellman-Hammet award. After submitting written testimony about human rights violations in Vietnam to the US Congress and circulating articles critical of the Vietnamese government on the internet in 2002, Binh was arrested and convicted on charges of espionage.
Reported by Pham Hong Son
Tel: (84) 936 063 362
Contact numbers of Nguyen Vu Binh’s wife, Mrs. Bui Thi Kim Ngan are: 
(84) 912 572 611 or (84) 4-63 64 524
NOTE: To inquire about the health condition of Mr. Nguyen Vu Binh, please contact Mr. Pham Hong Son directly since he speaks fluent English.
