December 10, 2008
Three months after their arrests, at least eight Vietnamese democracy activists continue to be held without formal charges for protesting government policies toward China. From September 10-23, 2008, Vietnamese security police detained Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Pham Thanh Nghien, Vu Hung, Ngo Quynh, Tran Duc Thach, Pham Van Troi, Nguyen Van Tuc, and Nguyen Van Tinh.
They were among 100 Vietnamese military veterans and democracy activists who signed or supported a petition calling on the communist party and government to repudiate a 50-year old diplomatic note issued by North Vietnamese prime minister Pham Van Dong recognizing the People’s Republic of China’s claim over the entire South China Sea. This note, issued on September 14, 1958, contradicted Vietnam’s historical ownership and the then legal standing of North Vietnam.
In recent days, the Hanoi foreign ministry implicitly refuted the Pham Van Dong cable by reaffirming Vietnam’s claims over the Paracel and Spratly Islands. Yet Vietnamese citizens who express public concern for the nation’s territorial integrity have been routinely persecuted. The jailing of the activists represents not only a violation of human rights, but also the Hanoi regime’s subservience to Beijing on issues of national sovereignty.
After three months in detention, none of the democracy activists have been allowed family visits. Following is what can be confirmed about their condition:
In addition to the individuals above, countless other Vietnamese citizens remain in jail or under house arrest for their peaceful expression, religious beliefs, or political activities.
On the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—of which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory—we urge the international community to pressure the Hanoi government to release these and all other prisoners of conscience.
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