Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung
Prime Minister of
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Hoang Van Thu, Hanoi
Vietnam
Geneva, 21 March 2008
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
Following our first letter in December 2007, we would like to again express our grave concern about the latest human rights violations in Vietnam.
On November 17 and 20, 2007, Vietnamese security police arrested and detained members and supporters of Viet Tan in Saigon, an oppositional party with an objective of non-violent political change. These individuals include:
Dr. Nguyen, Quoc Quan: American citizen
Ms. Nguyen, Thanh Van: French citizen (*)
Mr. Truong, Leon (Van Ba): American citizen (*)
Mr. Nguyen, The Vu: Vietnamese citizen
Mr. Nguyen, Viet Trung: Vietnamese citizen
Mr. Khunmi, Somsak: Thai citizen
Despite international pressure, only two of the detainees (*) had been released. It is very disappointing to see that Vietnam, even though a member of the United Nations, persists in restricting its citizens from exercising their fundamental rights. As member of the United Nations, Vietnam is a State party to the International Covenants on Human Rights and therefore must honour its commitments in virtue of the international law.
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Vietnam is a signatory, guarantees freedom of opinion and expression. This right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
We would like to request Mr. Prime Minister, that you immediately release the people who are still detained for exercising their fundamental rights.
Yours Sincerely,
Thierry Oppikofer
President
In the name and with the consent of the following Geneva and Swiss members of parliament:
Pierre Weiss
Michel Halpérin
Daniel Zaugg
Francis Walpen
Luc Barthassat
Anne-Marie Von Arx-Vernon
Pascal Petroz
François Gillet