Breaking News 11
2am, October 14, 2009 (Vietnam)
On the eve of October 13, 2009, relatives of teacher Vu Hung including his parents, wife and daughter went to his prison to visit and bring food. The prison warden denied the visit request claiming that Mr. Hung had “violated the prison’s rules and regulations.”
When confronted many times, prison officials let the family know that Mr. Hung had been on a hunger strike for the past seven days to protest the verdict of the Vietnamese regime. In a three hour trial on October 7, 2009, the Hanoi People’s Court sentenced him to three years in prison and three years probation. His felony offense was joining with eight other patriots to hang banners declaring the Spratly and Paracel Islands a part of Vietnam and to call for improvement in Vietnam’s social situation. At the trial he maintained that his views were dedicated totally to the people and country. He denied the regime’s charges and announced, “I just wanted to contribute my small voice to make the society better.”
Since Vu Hung was arrested on September 18, 2008, the family has not been able to meet with him. At the trial on October 7, 2009, after being sentenced Vu Hung tried to approach his wife, Ly Thi Tuyet Mai, to comfort her with a few words, but police immediately blocked Mrs. Mai and pulled him out of court.
Two days after the trial, Amnesty International launched an urgent action appeal to its worldwide membership on behalf of prisoner of conscience Vu Hung.
