Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture
September 9, 2010
Case
At least four members of Viet Tan (Viet Nam Reform Party) were arrested in July and in August 2010 for having defended the human rights of Vietnamese citizens. They are arbitrarily detained and are at risk of ill treatments and torture.
Professor Pham Minh Hoang, 55 years old, lecturer in mathematics at the Ho Chi Minh City Polytechnic Institute, was arrested on 13 August 2010 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). This French-Vietnamese citizen supported protests against bauxite mining in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam. He attended a conference in Saigon, on the issue of Vietnamese sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands. According to his wife, the police are investigating also on the leadership training courses taught by Professor Pham Minh Hoang. He also blogged on critical issues under the penname Phan Kien Quoc.
In spite of its requests, his family had not been informed neither about his detention location nor the charges brought against him, before 6 September 2010, when Professor Pham Minh Hoang’s wife received a notification from the public security ministry stating that her husband was detained under Article 79 of the Vietnamese criminal code (“activities aiming to overthrow the socialist government”), offence punished by death penalty. He has still not being brought before a court.
Pastor Duong Kim Khai, 52 years old, member of the Mennonite Church of Vietnam was arrested on 10 August 2010 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). He was imprisoned several times in the past for his activities in favor of human rights. He suffered ill-treatments in detention. Ms. Tran Thi Thuy, 39 years old, merchant, was arrested on 10 August 2010 in Dong Thap. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam, 57 years old, farmer, was arrested on 18 July 2010 in Ben Tre. These three people were campaigning in favour of farmers expropriated from their lands over the last 20 years, in Ben Tre and Dong Thap provinces. They were all arrested under article 79 of the criminal code.
Letter to send to the Vietnamese president:
You can send it by fax or email (via the Ministry of Foreign affairs):
Fax: +8443 823 1878
Email: bc.mfa@mofa.gov.vn
You can send a copy to the Viet Nam embassy or diplomatic representation of your country.
President Nguyen Minh Triet,
Office of the President,
1 Bach Thao,
Hanoi,
Vietnam
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the arbitrary detention of:
- Professor Pham Minh Hoang, 55 years old, lecturer in mathematics at the Ho Chi Minh City Polytechnic Institute, arrested on 13 August 2010 and detained in Nguyen Van Cu prison, in Ho Chi Minh city;
- Pastor Duong Kim Khai, 52 years old, member of the Mennonite Church of Vietnam, arrested on 10 August 2010 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon);
- Ms. Tran Thi Thuy, 39 years old, merchant, arrested on 10 August 2010 in Dong Thap;
- Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam, 57 years old, farmer, arrested on 18 July 2010 in Ben Tre.
Their arrest and detention result from their activities in favour of human rights and their peaceful exercise of their freedom to expression and opinion. Their family was informed that their arrest fall under article 79 of the Vietnamese criminal code, vaguely worded legal provision which is arbitrarily used to repress peaceful dissident. I am seriously concerned that these people be submitted to torture or ill-treatments.
In accordance with Viet Nam’s international obligations, I urge you to:
- guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological of Pham Minh Hoang, Duong Kim Khai, Tran Thi Thuy and Nguyen Thanh Tam;
- immediately drop all charges against these four people as they seem to be only aimed against their activities in favour of human rights;
- ensure that they have an immediate and full access to their lawyer and receive visits from their family;
- repeal or amend legal provisions criminalizing peaceful dissent and end harassment and imprisonment of citizens peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and opinion.
Yours sincerely,
