Vietnam: Release All Political Prisoners

November 3, 2017

Over 100 Behind Bars with World Leaders to Attend APEC Summit

(New York, November 3, 2017) – The Vietnamese government should immediately release everyone it has detained or imprisoned for peacefully exercising their rights, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch posted a new web page highlighting the cases of 15 of more than 100 people imprisoned for political or religious reasons.

International leaders and trade partners attending the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Da Nang on November 10, 2017, should call on Vietnamese authorities to end the government’s systematic persecution of peaceful critics and ensure the basic rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly, and religion for its citizens.

“While doing photo-ops and trade deals with the leaders of Vietnam’s one-party state, foreign officials in the country for APEC should not turn a blind eye to the over 100 political prisoners those very same leaders have put behind bars,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “At the same time that Vietnam is playing the role of a friendly host to welcome international delegations, the authorities are intensifying their crackdown on anyone with the courage to speak up for human rights and democracy.”

Since its formation in 1976, the modern, unified Vietnamese state has imprisoned people for the exercise of basic freedoms. At present, at least 105 peaceful critics (list below) are in prison for expressing critical views of the government, taking part in peaceful protests, participating in religious groups that don’t have the authorities’ approval, or joining civil or political organizations that the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam deem threats to its monopoly on power.

On October 25, in the most recent sentencing, the People’s Court of Thai Nguyen sentenced 24-year-old student blogger Phan Kim Khanh to six years in prison for “conducting propaganda against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.” Upon release, he will serve an additional four years of probation restricting his movement to his residential ward. The verdict should be quashed and Phan Kim Khanh should be immediately released, Human Rights Watch said.

Within the past 12 months, the police have arrested at least 28 people for sweeping “national security” offenses that are used to punish critical speech. The most recent arrest was on October 17, when the police detained an environmental activist, Tran Thi Xuan, in Ha Tinh province and charged her with activities aimed at overthrowing the government.

Vietnamese rights bloggers and activists face police harassment, intimidation, intrusive surveillance, detention, and interrogation on a daily basis. Many are denounced on state media and national television, and others are subjected to public criticism in their neighborhoods. Police frequently prohibit rights campaigners from leaving the country or place them under temporary house arrest to prevent them from joining a protest or meeting with foreign diplomats. Activists have faced increasing numbers of beatings and assaults by men in civilian clothes operating under the protection of the authorities. Vietnamese activists who are arrested are often placed in lengthy police detention before their trial, without access to legal assistance or family visits.

“Neither a glittering APEC summit nor new trade deals can cover up the ugly reality that Vietnam still runs a police state that brooks no dissent,” Adams said. “Any leader of a democracy who goes to APEC but doesn’t take up the cause of Vietnam’s political prisoners should be ashamed at missing the opportunity to do the right thing on a global stage. International donors and trade partners should press Vietnam for systemic change to a more democratic system that respects human rights and the rule of law.”

Human Rights Watch List of Political Prisoners October 2017

The following is a list of people imprisoned in Vietnam for expressing critical views of the government, taking part in peaceful protests, participating in religious groups not approved by the authorities, or joining civil or political organizations that the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam deems threats to its monopoly on power. This list only includes people who have been convicted and remain in prison and does not include the significant number of detainees who have been arrested, are currently facing trial, and have not yet been convicted. It is also almost certainly incomplete, as it only includes convictions that Human Rights Watch has been able to document.

Due to difficulties in obtaining information about convictions and sentences in Vietnam, this list may differ from those compiled by other organizations, and such differences do not necessarily reflect inaccuracies. Vietnam should be urged to open its legal system – including case files and proceedings – to public scrutiny.

1. Phan Kim Khánh, 1993
2. Nguyễn Văn Oai, 1981
3. Trần Thị Nga, 1977
4. Nguyễn Ngọc Như Quỳnh (Mẹ Nấm), 1979
5. Rơ Ma Đaih (Ama Pôn), 1989
6. Puih Bop (Ama Phun), 1959
7. Ksor Kam (Ama H’Trưm), 1965
8. Rơ Lan Kly (Ama Blan), 1962
9. hinh Nông (Bă Pol), 1965
10. Trần Anh Kim, 1949
11. Lê Thanh Tùng, 1968
12. Cấn Thị Thêu, 1962
13. Ksor Phit, 1970
14. Siu Đik, 1970
15. Nguyễn Hữu Quốc Duy, 1985
16. Ksor Púp (Ama Hyung)
17. Siu Đoang, 1983
18. A Jen, 1994
19. Un Tik, 1952
20. Đinh Kữ, 1972
21. Thin, 1979
22. Gyưn, 1980
23. Nguyễn Đình Ngọc (Nguyễn Ngọc Già, 1966
24. Ngô Thị Minh Ước, 1959
25. Nguyễn Hữu Vinh (Ba Sàm), 1956
26. Nguyễn Tiến Thịnh
27. Hoàng Văn Thu
28. Nguyễn Lê Châu Bình
29. Nguyễn Văn Thông, 1969
30. Kpuih Khuông
31. Rmah Khil
32. Rmah Bloanh
33. A Kuin (Bă Chăn), 1974
34. Ngư (a.k.a Bă Săn), 1972
35. Điểu B’ré (Bạp Bum), 1969
36. Điểu By Ơ, 1967
37. Đinh Yum,1963
38. Rơ Mah Plă (Rmah Blă / Ama Em), 1968
39. Siu Tinh (Ama Khâm), 1978
40. Rưn
41. Chi
42. Đinh Lý
43. Đinh Ngo
44. Thạch Thươl, 1985
45. Ngô Hào, 1948
46. Un Tách (Bă Hlôl), 1959
47. Rung, 1979
48. Jơnh (Chình), 1952
49. Un Hyum (Bă Kôl), 1940
50. Byưk, 1945
51. Đinh Lứ, 1976
52. Đinh Hrôn, 1981
53. Đinh Nguyên Kha, 1988
54. Phan Văn Thu, 1948
55. Lê Duy Lộc, 1956
56. Vương Tấn Sơn, 1953
57. Đoàn Đình Nam, 1951
58. Nguyễn Kỳ Lạc, 1951
59. Tạ Khu, 1947
60. Từ Thiện Lương, 1950
61. Võ Ngọc Cư, 1951
62. Võ Thành Lê, 1955
63. Võ Tiết, 1952
64. Lê Phúc, 1951
65. Đoàn Văn Cư, 1962
66. Nguyễn Dinh, 1968
67. Phan Thanh Ý, 1948
68. Đỗ Thị Hồng, 1957
69. Trần Phi Dũng, 1966
70. Lê Đức Động, 1983
71. Lê Trọng Cư, 1966
72. Lương Nhật Quang, 1987
73. Nguyễn Thái Bình, 1986
74. Trần Quân, 1984
75. Phan Thanh Tường, 1987
76. Hồ Đức Hòa, 1974
77. Nguyễn Đặng Minh Mẫn, 1985
78. Tráng A Chớ, 1985
79. Kpuil Mel
80. Kpuil Lễ
81. Siu Thái (Ama Thương), 1978
82. Phạm Thị Phượng, 1945
83. Trần Thị Thúy, 1971
84. Siu Hlom, 1967
85. Siu Nheo, 1955
86. Siu Brơm, 1967
87. Rah Lan Mlih, 1966
88. Rơ Mah Pró, 1964
89. Rah Lan Blom, 1976
90. Kpă Sinh, 1959
91. Rơ Mah Klít, 1946
92. Nguyễn Hoàng Quốc Hùng, 1981
93. Trần Huỳnh Duy Thức, 1966
94. Rmah Hlach (Ama Blut), 1968
95. Siu Kơch (Ama Liên), 1985
96. Nhi (Bă Tiêm), 1958
97. Siu Ben (Ama Yôn)
98. Rơ Lan Jú (Ama Suit)
99. Nơh, 1959
100. Rôh, 1962
101. Pinh, 1967
102. Siu Wiu
103. Brong, 1964
104. Y Kur BĐáp
105. Y Jim Êban

Source : Human Rights Watch