Before Franch President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Vietnam, seven international NGOs, including LDH, ACAT France, and Viet Tan, raised concerns about the human rights situation in Vietnam and called on him to prioritize these rights alongside economic issues.
See the letter in PDF format: Letter to president Macron – 21-05-2025
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To
Mr. Emmanuel Macron
President of the French Republic
Palais de l’Élysée
55, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
75008 Paris, France
Paris, 21th May 2025
Subject: Situation of Human Rights in Vietnam Ahead of Your visit on May 26–27
Mr. President,
In a time of increasing geopolitical and economic instability, your action in support of the rule of law is recognized by many citizens particularly based on your stance with the war in Ukraine.
On your upcoming visit to Vietnam, fromMay 26 to 27, the undersigned organizations respectfully urge you to hold human rights on equal footing with economic interests, defending freedom of the press and expression alongside the right to free enterprise.
As of today, Vietnamese authorities continue to detain nearly 200 pro-democracy activists and bloggers whose only “crime” was to peacefully express opinions critical of the government and the Communist Party.
The human rights situation in Vietnam has significantly deteriorated since the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, due to the lack of binding safeguards from Hanoi prior to ratification. We fear that this pattern could repeat itself as France prepares to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement.
General To Lam, whom you welcomed to France in October last year, is responsible for numerous arrests and convictions of political opponents — some of whom were even abducted from European soil. He has recently called for a policy of national reconciliation. To achieve a serious and credible implementation, we respectfully request that you use your influence to advocate for the release of the following human rights defenders and bloggers:
Bui Tuan Lam, Can Thi Theu, Dang Dinh Bach, Le Dinh Luong, Nguyen Chi Thien, Nguyen Lan Thang, Nguyen Nang Tinh, Nguyen Trung Ton, Pham Chi Dung, Pham Doan Trang, Tran Duc Thach, Trinh Ba Phuong, Trinh Ba Tu, Truong Van Dung, and Y Krec Bya.
Several of these political prisoners have reportedly been subjected to ill-treatment while detained which is a violation of the Convention against Torture that Vietnam has been a party to since 2015. At the end of April 2025, Bui Tuan Lam was subjected to 10 days of solitary confinement with leg chains, without explanation. Currently, Le Dinh Luong, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence, is on hunger strike to demand ccess to medical care.
We recognize the strategic importance that Vietnam holds for France. Yet, a truly reliable and long-term partnership can only be built on shared democratic values and universal human rights — principles that France stands for.
Sincerely yours,
112WATCH
ACAT-France
ACAT-Germany
Brotherhood for the Democracy
LDH (Ligue des Droits de l’Homme)
Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG)
Viet Tan
