Thirty IFEX members protested the sentencing of bloggers, citizen journalists and rights activists, jailed for up to 13 years in the biggest ever trial of pro-democracy activists in Vietnam.
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an appeal to the Vietnamese government coordinated by ARTICLE 19 and supported by 30 IFEX members and affiliates:
Appeal to the Vietnamese authorities to free bloggers, citizen journalists and human rights activists and drop charges
Nguyễn Tấn Dũng
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Office of the State
1 Bach Thao
Hanoi, Vietnam
14 January 2013
Dear Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng,
We, the undersigned organisations, are seriously concerned over the conviction on Tuesday 8 January 2013, and harsh sentencing on Wednesday 9 January, of fourteen human rights activists in Vinh City, namely: Ho Duc Hoa, Dang Xuan Dieu, Paulus Le Son, Nguyen Van Duyet, Nguyen Van Oai, Ho Van Oanh, Nguyen Dinh Cuong, Nguyen Xuan Anh, Thai Van Dung, Tran Minh Nhat, Nong Hung Anh, Nguyen Dang Vinh Phuc, Nguyen Dang Minh Man, and Dang Ngoc Minh.
We are alarmed that thirteen activists were dealt severe custodial penalties, ranging from 3 to 13 years’ imprisonment, with only one activist receiving a probation sentence.
These activists, many of whom are bloggers and citizen journalists, were charged under Article 79 of the Vietnamese Penal Code for “carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration”. The criminal activities the group are said to have engaged in include writing commentary that is critical of the Government and distributing this information on the Internet, and both participating in and encouraging peaceful protest.
These activities should not be punished as criminal offences, but are all activities that Vietnam is obliged to protect and promote as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the ICCPR). The ICCPR protects the right to freedom of expression (Article 19), the right to freedom of peaceful assembly (Article 21), and the right to freedom of association (Article 22).
We are further concerned that the activists may have been targeted because of their religious beliefs. The majority of the activists are Catholic. We remind the Government of Vietnam that as a State Party to the ICCPR, it is also obligated to protect the right to freedom of religion (Article 18 ICCPR) for all of its citizens and the right to non-discrimination on the basis of religion or political belief (Article 2(1) and Article 26 ICCPR).
Family members and supporters of the activists have also received threats and been harassed by uniformed and plainclothes police, leading up to and during the trial of the activists. There are also reports that supporters have been attacked by the police and temporarily detained.
We call on the Government of Vietnam to immediately release the thirteen detained activists and to reverse the convictions for all fourteen. We also call on the Government of Vietnam to ensure the well-being of the activists while they are detained, to protect the safety of their family and supporters, and to investigate and hold to account those responsible for threats and harassment against them and other media workers.
Sincerely,
IFJ Asia Pacific
