Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey
Federal Counsel
Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
State Building
CH-3003 Berne
Geneva, October 28, 2010
Dear Federal Counsel:
We are deeply concerned about the arrests, between mid-July and October 2010, of Professor Pham Minh Hoang, Pastor Duong Kim Khai, Ms. Tran Thi Thuy and Nguyen Thanh Tam, that the Vietnamese government accused of “attempting to overthrow the government” for the only reason that they are members of Viet Tan (the Vietnam Reform Party). Despite the importance of the charges, there has been no communication from the authorities nor from the official media regarding their arrests.
These persons are just ordinary citizens, patriots, who peacefully express their opinion regarding religious freedom and social justice. They don’t use any violence.
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. As a member of the Security Council of the United Nations, the Vietnamese government has the obligation to respect these agreements.
We, the undersigned, urge the Federal Counsel (as the United Nations Council for Human Rights, the European Union and the representatives of the democratic countries):
- to ask the Vietnamese government to primarily authorize visits to the political prisoners above-mentioned and to ensure their personal safety;
- to invite the Vietnamese government to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including freedom to receive and circulate information, freedom of religion and freedom to join political parties;
- to ask the Vietnamese government to immediately release Professor Pham Minh Hoang, Pastor Duong Kim Khai, Ms. Tran Thi Thuy, Nguyen Thanh Tam and all other political prisoners.
The Vietnamese authorities must be liable for the health and safety of these persons.
Yours sincerely,
Signatories:
- Läser Patricia, Member of the Grand Council of Geneva
- Schneuwly Nathalie, Member of the Grand Council of Geneva
- Barrillier Gabriel, Member of the Grand Council of Geneva
- Conne Pierre, Member of the Grand Council of Geneva
- Ducret Michel, Member of the Grand Council of Geneva
- Hohl Frédéric, Member of the Grand Council of Geneva
- Romain Jean, Member of the Grand Council of Geneva
- Saudan Patrick, Member of the Grand Council of Geneva
- Selleger Charles, Member of the Grand Council of Geneva
- Jeannerat Jacques, Member of the Grand Council of Geneva
- Malek-Asghar Patrick, President of the Radical Party of Geneva, Mayor of Versoix
- Alder Murat, Vice-President of the Radical Party of Geneva, Member of Geneva Constituent Assembly
- Büchi Thomas, President of the Constituent Assembly of Geneva
- Kunz Pierre, Leader of the Radical group at the Constituent Assembly of Geneva
- Brandt Simon, Leader of the Radical Group at the Council of the City of Geneva
- Genecand Adrien, President of the Young Liberal Radicals and elected member of the City Council of Geneva
- Böhler Elizabeth, Administrative Advisor of Grand-Saconnex