Urgent Plea to the government of Vietnam asking for the safe return of our husbands

Vietnam, October 30, 2008

To:

1. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
2. Vietnam Chief of Police, Le Hong Anh
3. Vietnam Chief of Police, Bureau of Investigation, Tran Van Thanh
4. Representatives of the European Union
5. The United States House of Representatives
6. The various international Human Rights organizations
7. Citizens of Vietnam and Vietnamese organizations in and outside of Vietnam

Re: Urgent Plea to the government of Vietnam asking for the safe return of our husbands.

We, the undersigned, are wives of the dissidents who have been incarcerated by the Vietnam Security Police since September 10, 2008. To wit:

1. Nguyen Xuan Nghia, writer. Born in 1949, Hai Phong, leader of Bloc 8406. He was arrested on September 10, 2008, accused of “propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” according to Article 88 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.
2. Pham Van Troi, born in 1972 in Hanoi ; member of Bloc 8406 and The Committee for Vietnam Human Rights. Accused of “propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” according to Article 88 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.
3. Nguyen Van Tuc, born in 1964, Thai Binh. Arrested September 10, 2008; accused of “propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” according to Article 88 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.
4. Nguyen Kim Nhan, from Bac Giang. Arrested September 25, 2008; falsely accused of “propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” according to Article 88 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.
5. Vu Hung, teacher. Arrested September 18, 2008 in Ha Tay for “propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” according to Article 88 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.

Currently, our husbands and their friends who have been arrested on the same day, such as poet Tran Duc Thach from Nghe An, Ngo Quynh from Bac Giang, Nguyen Van Tinh and Pham Thanh Nghien of Hai Phong, etc., have all been incarcerated at the Hoa Lo 1, also known as B14 Hanoi, Vietnam. Nearly all have been charged with violating Article 88 of the Vietnam Penal Code, wherein they alleged the people mentioned above have “created and stored documents that are anti the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.”

The following are universal values, respected by the international communities which are clearly stipulated in the Constitution of Vietnam, Article 69: “citizens have the rights to freedom of thoughts, freedom of the press, freedom to exchange ideas and freedom of association.” Moreover, the natural civil and political rights ascribed in Article 19, which is enshrined in the International Covenant of Human Rights, affirms: “citizens regardless of nationalities”, are all entitled to “the right to access and receive information, the right to express their opinion at any place, not limited by borders, regardless of the modes of expression, whether in writing, printing or dissemination by mass circulation,” and Article 9, also affirms “no one should become the victims of the policy of arbitrary imprisonment, prosecution and track down.”

We earnestly call on the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to give back the freedom to our husbands so they can return to their families. We fervently implore governments everywhere, international Human Rights organizations, Vietnamese within and without Vietnam to collectively lend a hand and support us in our efforts to call on the Vietnamese government to stop persecuting the dissidents, give human rights a chance and release our husbands.

Vietnam, October 30, 2008

Unanimously Signed

1. Nguyen Thi Nga, Nguyen Xuan Nghia’s wife, Hai Phong Vietnam
2. Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang, Nguyen Van Troi’s wife, Ha Tay Vietnam
3. Bui Thi Re, Nguyen Van Tuc’s wife, Thai Binh Vietnam
4. Ly Thi Tuyet Mai, Vu Hung’s wife, Ha Tay Vietnam
5. Nguyen Thi Loc, Nguyen Kim Nhan’s wife, Bac Giang Vietnam