Tra Vinh, January 4, 2015
I am Dang Ngoc Minh, a former Prisoner of Conscience and mother of POC Nguyen Dang Minh Man who is serving an 8 year prison term at Prison 5, Yen Dinh, Thanh Hoa.
I spoke to Minh Man when she called home on January 3rd, 2015 in a five minutes phone conversation and was informed that Minh Man has resumed hunger strike again since 22nd December 2014 with fellow prisoners Can Thi Theu and Ho Thi Bich Khuong. The action is to assert objection against continued unfair treatment on POCs as the matter was publicly raised through an earlier hunger strike between November 28th to December 12th 2014. However no improvement had avail and Minh Man with fellow POCs were left with no choice but to continue protesting in this manner for any justice to be carried out. Albeit prison officials have made promises on improvement upon re-arrangement of their zones, the condition in the prison has not changed but rather worsened by ways of additional security fencing being installed and prohibition of areas of movement specially imposed on POCs, notwithstanding the New Year eve celebration. Prisoners of Conscience are currently detained in isolation and are prohibited from exercising in the open or participation in any physical activities.
I had been a political prisoner and received harsh treatments while being detained in camps in Southern to North and Central Vietnam. It has been seven months since I was released at the end of prison term, and clearly, there has been severe escalation of discrimatory and unjust treatment from prison wardens on POCs. I am not only angered but also deeply hurt to hear my daughter’s very faint and weakened voice as a result of many days gone without food. I am pleading to all people, Vietnamese who are inside or outside of Vietnam, International Human Rights organisations, all justice groups, associations, rights defenders to help us, our daughter and many other POCs by raising your voice! All I am wishing is basic justice to prevail for the political prisoners whose conditions are only becoming worsened daily at Camp 5, Thanh Hoa.
I’m grateful for your time and attention in reading my letter and sharing it widely.
Regards,
Dang Ngoc Minh
Former POC
