April 2, 2010
Renowned Vietnamese novelist and democracy activist Tran Khai Thanh Thuy will go before an appeals court in Hanoi on April 16. The Vietnamese government recently sentenced Thuy to three and a half years imprisonment in retaliation for her blogging and peaceful political activities. Her husband, Do Ba Tan, was sentenced to house arrest and is also appealing.
Thuy—an honorary member of English PEN and recipient of Human Right Watch’s prestigious Hellman Hammett award—had tried to attend the trials of fellow democracy activists on October 8, 2009. She was stopped by police and forcibly led home. According to eyewitnesses, thugs attacked Thuy and her husband at their home on the night of October 8.
In an Orwellian twist, the couple was charged with physical assault. Authorities published on state newspapers an image of the purported assault victim. This photo has been proven to be a fake. Vietnamese bloggers, analyzing the embedded properties of the photo, revealed that it was taken in 2005 and that a doctored time stamp was added to the picture using Photoshop software.
With prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung preparing to attend an international summit in Washington D.C. this month, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam must demonstrate that it respects international norms.
Viet Tan encourages human rights supporters to advocate for the release of Thuy and other Vietnamese prisoners of conscience.
The Hanoi regime must immediately free novelist Tran Khai Thanh Thuy and cease all harassment against her and her family.
Contact:
Duy Hoang
+1.202.470.0845
