PEN International

Tran Duc Thach and Nguyen Van Tinh were included in an amnesty celebrating Vietnamese National Day.

WiPC supported a trial observation mission to the country for the verdict, in partnership with IFEX, and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those currently detained for the peaceful exercise of their opinions.

Lu Van Bay, a prominent pro-democracy activist, wrote and published articles online calling for the end of one-party rule and the introduction of a multiparty political system.

Those released include writer, journalist and activist ‘Ali al-Abdullah, lawyer and writer Muhannad al-Hassani, novelist Raghdah Sa’id Hassan, poet and lawyer Mustafa Ismail, and writers Husam ‘Ali Mulhim and Tarek Al-Gorani.

Nguyen Van Hai’s wife was told by a prison security guard that her husband had lost an arm or a hand in prison; no further details were given about his condition or how and when the accident happened, and the report has not been officially confirmed.

The IFEX-TMG is urging action to prevent any repeat of recent violent crackdowns on demonstrators and journalists in the run up to scheduled constitutional elections in October.

Abbas Al-Murshid had been held since 15 May for his peaceful dissident activities.

Urunboy Usmonov was released on bail on 14 July 2011 after signing a written pledge to remain in the country to face criminal charges.