June 5, 2012
The Honorable Nguyen Tan Dung
Prime Minister
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Dear Prime Minister Dung:
We write to request that you facilitate the immediate release of Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan, an American citizen and California resident who was arrested and taken into custody on April 17, 2012, at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. According to available news reports, Dr. Quan was arrested and charged with terrorism despite being in Vietnam to meet with family and to discuss nonviolent political action with fellow activists.
Dr. Quan’s arrest is deeply troubling, particularly as the United States and Vietnam seek to expand bilateral ties. One week after Dr. Quan’s arrest, the United States and Vietnam engaged in five days of naval training exercises. While we support a strong U.S.-Vietnam relationship and are encouraged by the progress our nations have made together, we remain deeply concerned by the detention of peaceful activists like Dr. Quan whose only crimes involve the peaceful expression of political views.
We appreciate the commitments your government has made to human rights—including through the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—and therefore request that Dr. Quan and all political prisoners detained under similar circumstances be immediately released and allowed to peacefully advocate for their political beliefs. Such steps would greatly aid in the continued strengthening of U.S.-Vietnam ties.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
cc:
- The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, United States Secretary of State
- The Honorable David Shear, United States Ambassador to Vietnam
