July 27, 2011
Scholars at Risk (SAR) is gravely concerned about Professor Pham Minh Hoang, who will face trial on August 10, 2011 on charges of “attempting to overthrow the socialist government”. SAR asks for letters, faxes and emails urging the appropriate authorities to intervene to examine the circumstances of his detention; to ensure his access to legal counsel, family and medical care, pending his earliest release; and to ensure that Professor Hoang’s case is addressed in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process and fair trial, in accordance with Vietnam’s obligations under international law.
Scholars at Risk is an international network of over 250 universities and colleges in 30 countries dedicated to protecting the human rights of scholars around the world and to raising awareness, understanding of, and respect for the principles of academic freedom and its constituent freedoms of expression, opinion, thought, association and travel. In cases like Professor Hoang’s involving alleged infringement of these freedoms, SAR investigates hoping to clarify and resolve matters favorably.
Professor Pham Minh Hoang is a lecturer of mathematics at Ho Chi Minh City Polytechnic Institute. He was arrested on August 13, 2010. He has been charged with “attempting to overthrow the socialist government” and will face trial on August 10, 2011, just three days before the one-year anniversary of his imprisonment. His detention and trial suggest retaliation against a scholar for the peaceful exercise of fundamental rights of free expression and association that are guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Vietnam is party.
In advance of Professor Hoang’s trial, Scholars at Risk respectfully urges the appropriate authorities to examine the circumstances of his detention and, pending his earliest release, ensure his access to legal counsel, family and medical care. SAR further urges authorities to ensure that Professor Hoang’s case is addressed in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process and fair trial, in accordance with Vietnam’s obligations under international law.
Scholars at Risk invites letters, emails and faxes be sent:
PLEASE WRITE TO:
Nguyen Tan Dung
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Hoang Hoa Tham
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Email: banbientap@mofa.gov.vn (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
COPIES TO:
Truong Vinh Trong
Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Amnesty Advisory Council
Prime Minister’s Office
Hoang Hoa Tham
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Le Hong Anh
Minister of Public Security
Ministry of Public Security
44 Yiet Kieu
Hoan Kiem
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Minister Alain Juppe
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
37 Quai d’Orsay
75351 Paris, France
Nicolas Warnery
Consul General
French Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City
27 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Q.1
Ho Chi Minh City
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Fax: +84-8-3520-6819 & +84-8-3520-6829
The Honorable _____
Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to [YOUR COUNTRY]
[POSTAL ADDRESS]
[FAX]
[EMAIL]
(See http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/bng_vietn… for a list of Vietnamese embassies worldwide.)
The Honorable _________
Ambassador of [YOUR COUNTRY] to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
[POSTAL ADDRESS]
[FAX]
[EMAIL]
Scholars at Risk
New York University
194 Mercer St., 4th floor
New York, NY 10012 USA
Fax: +1 212 995-4402
scholarsatrisk@nyu.edu
To view a model letter of appeal, as well as a copy of SAR’s letter, please visit: http://scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu/Educa….