Former Prisoners of Conscience Call on the Vietnamese Government to Cease Arresting Independent Writers

Former Vietnamese prisoner of conscience Nguyen Van Dai recently uploaded a letter on Facebook signed by 37 prisoners of conscience and political refugees calling for the Vietnamese authorities to immediately cease arresting independent writers, journalists, and bloggers for practicing their freedom of expression both on and offline.

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June 9, 2020

We, the former Vietnamese prisoners of conscience and political refugees from all over the world, co-signed the letter below to respectfully call on:

• The Government of the United States of America,
• The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany,
• The Government of the French Republic,
• The Government of the United Kingdom,
• The European Union,
• All International Human Rights Organisations

To demand the Vietnamese Communist Authorities to immediately cease arresting independent writers, journalists and Facebookers who peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of expression, freedom of media, and freedom of association, in expressing their views on social and political issues in Vietnam.
To condemn the Vietnamese government in arresting Mr. Trần Đức Thạch, accusing him of violating Article 109 (activities against the state), Mr. Phạm Chí Thành and Mr. Nguyễn Tường Thuỵ, both accused of violating Article 117 (propaganda against the state) of the Penal Code.
To request the Vietnamese Authorities to immediately release these three journalists and all political prisoners in Vietnam.

We appreciate your attention on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

1. Nguyễn Văn Đài, Hanau, Germany;
2. Nguyễn Văn Hải, California, USA;
3. Việt Khang, California, USA;
4. Nguyễn Chính Kết, Texas, USA;
5. Đặng Xuân Diệu, Paris, France;
6. Phạm Minh Hoàng, Paris, France
7. Phan Ngọc Tuấn, Bangkok, Thailand;
8. Chu Mạnh Sơn, Bangkok, Thailand;
9. Trần Minh Nhật, Bangkok, Thailand;
10. Đoàn Huy Chương, Bangkok, Thailand;
11. Trần Thị Nga, Atlanta, USA;
12. Lê Văn Sơn, USA;
13. Thạch Phum Rich, Bangkok, Thailand
14. Trần Hồng Giang, Bangkok, Thailand;
15. Đặng Thị Nhàn, London, UK;
16. Đinh Công Vinh, Lincoln, UK;
17. Nguyễn Văn Dương, Suffolk, UK
18. Nguyễn Đăng Minh, Leicester, UK;
19. Trần Thị Thảo, Wales, UK;
20. Trần Thị Lịch, London, UK.
21. Lê Thiên Đức, London, UK;
22. Lê Hiếu, London, UK;
23. Trương Đông, London, UK;
24. Nguyễn Quốc Duy, London, UK;
25. Nguyễn Quốc Huấn, London, UK;
26. Trần Văn An, London, UK;
27. Nguyễn Văn Tèo, London, UK;
28. Nguyễn Huy Anh, London, UK;
29. Nguyễn Văn Tuấn, London, UK;
30. Trần Đại Việt, London, UK;
31. Nguyễn Kiều Phong, Nottingham, UK;
32. Trần Văn Cường, London, UK;
33. Nguyễn Thành Trung, London, UK;
34. Lê Phương Anh, London, UK;
35. Trần Anh Tuấn, London, UK;
36. Nguyễn Thị Hải, London, UK;
37. Nguyễn Phương Thuỳ, London, UK