February 5, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ms. Angelina Do (US)
Phone: +1 916-248-1588
Ms Sofie Bui (Australia)
Phone : +61 411-789-585
Email: Media@viettan.org
Dissidents arrested and tortured
On the morning of February 3, Attorneys Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan, Engineers Bach Ngoc Duong, Pham Van Troi and two other democracy activists were arrested and detained without a warrant at attorney Nguyen’s office. They were interrogated and treated harshly through out. Mr Bach Ngoc Duong and attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan were not allowed to access drinking water and toiletry needs. Currently, Attorneys Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan are still being detained at Hanoi Police Station. They went on a hunger strike in protesting such illegal detainment and ill-treatment from the Vietnamese authorities. Attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan’s health was reported in critical condition with low blood pressure and dehydration. At one stage, during the interrogation, Mr Bach Ngoc Duong was assaulted by the police officer. He was punched on the face with his glasses broken while another officer strangled his neck.
At the same time, in the province of Gia Lai, Central Highlands young Christians Degar-Montanards were arrested and beaten at local police station. The police used Karate and Kung Fu to strike at these young men, as if they were “practicing martial arts”. Both 21-year-old Yum and Grun sustained severe facial and head injuries. Yum became unconscious during the beating and neither was able to resume work till now. Latest report from Human Rights Watch revealed that more than 350 Christian Montagnards are still being imprisoned throughout Vietnam and there is compelling evidence of torture and mistreatment of these detainees for their peacefully political and religious activities.
The demands for political change and religious rights in Vietnam have become a grassroots social movement. Viet Tan calls on international leaders and human rights organizations to demand the Vietnamese Authorities immediately release these democracy activists and ceasing all forms of persecutions. We also call on parliamentarians and international media to visit with the democracy activists and seek out Vietnamese citizens calling for social justice.