November 18, 2010
It has been over three months since the Vietnamese authorities arrested four pro-democracy activists based on their membership in Viet Tan.
Pham Minh Hoang, a math lecturer at the Saigon Polytechnic University, was detained on August 13, 2010 on charges of “attempting to overthrow the government” under Article 79 of the Vietnamese penal code, an accusation commonly used against members of pro-democracy opposition parties.
To date, he has not had any legal representation. Although his family arranged for a defense lawyer, authorities have yet to grant permission for attorney Tran Vu Hai to represent Professor Hoang. On September 30, state media broadcasted video footage of him apparently admitting to the charges produced by the Ministry of Public Security
Beginning in September, an official from the French Consulate has made a monthly visit to Professor Hoang, who holds dual Vietnamese-French citizenship. Each visit has taken place under heavy surveillance with the conversation conducted in Vietnamese and restricted only to his physical well-being. Prison officials refused to allow the French consulate to pass on a letter from his wife.
His wife, Le Thi Kieu Oanh was summoned for questioning by the public security at the beginning of November and has been ordered not to speak to media.
Duong Kim Khai, a pastor in the Mennonite Church, was detained on August 10, 2010. Not until October 12 did his family receive written confirmation of his arrest. The letter from the Ministry of Public Security indicated he was held at “Prison B34” without stating a physical address or how long he would be detained. His family has since petitioned to visit and send care packages to his place of detention. All requests have gone unanswered.
Tran Thi Thuy, a farmer rights activist and Hoa Hao Buddhist follower, was detained on August 10, 2010. She has spent the last 20 years petitioning for redress of government land grabs on behalf of herself and others in Dong Thap province. Since March, her family has been constantly harassed and even physically assaulted by security police and plainclothes assailants. After repeated appeals from her mother, her family was able to send a care package on October 30. However, requests for visits and further information on the case of Ms. Thuy have been denied.
Nguyen Thanh Tam, a farmer rights activist and member of the Evangelical church, was detained on July 18, 2010. Like Duong Kim Khai and Tran Thi Thuy, Nguyen Thanh Tam has campaigned for himself and on behalf of other farmers to seek redress for illegal land grabs by Communist Party officials. Following his arrest, his extended family has received constant threats from security police, warning them against leaving their house or making contact with others, including media and even members of the church. As of today, the family of Nguyen Thanh Tam has not been allowed to visit.
For further information on the campaign to free these four democracy and social justice activists, please visit www.viettan.org/freethemnow.
