March 1, 2021
Representatives of ACAT Germany, the Federal Association of Vietnamese Refugees in Germany and the pro-democracy groups Viet Tan and Brotherhood for Democracy came together on February 19, 2021 with German Member of Parliament Martin Patzelt on the anniversary of the brutal police raid in Dong Tam near Hanoi. The police assaults were part of the forcible expropriation of land.
During a minute of silence, the participants commemorated and prayed for the victims of the police raid on January 9, 2020, who included individuals tortured and killed by people, and others given the egregious sentences such as the death penalty.
Nguyen Van Dai, a prominent blogger in exile, laureate of the German Association of Judges‘ Human Rights Award in 2017 and chairman of Brotherhood for Democracy, reported in detail about the repression against the citizens of Dong Tam.
Martin Patzelt expressed concerns about the continuous persecution in Vietnam. He stated that the country loses important potential for its future development when innocent people are imprisoned.
MP Patzelt reaffirmed his support of the NGO’s advocacy efforts, which he previously stood behind when he signed an open letter in October 2020 and participated in ACAT’s recent urgent actions.
Futhermore, he assured that he keep in touch with the NGOs.
Background information about the repression in Dong-Tam:
https://viettan.org/en/international-community-demands-justice-for-the-people-of-dong-tam/
