Writer and biologist Nguyen Xuan Tu, also known as Ha Si Phu, was given a twelve month prison sentence on 22 August 1996 on charges of possessing “secret” documents. No details are presently available to International PEN as to the nature of these documents. It is feared, however, that the real reason for his arrest […]
Writer and biologist Nguyen Xuan Tu, also known as Ha Si Phu, was
given a twelve month prison sentence on 22 August 1996 on charges
of possessing “secret” documents. No details are presently
available to International PEN as to the nature of these
documents. It is feared, however, that the real reason for his
arrest was a broadcast he made to a Vietnamese language radio
station in the United States of America in which he called for
democratic and economic reform. He was arrested the same day as
the broadcast.
Nguyen, age 56, was trained in the Czech republic. He is known
for his occasional articles over the past ten years in which he
has been critical of Vietnamese government policy. For example,
he wrote an article entitled “Farewell to Ideology” in which he
argued that Marxist-Leninism was no longer appropriate in today’s
Vietnam. In his broadcast in December 1995, he is said to have
told listeners that “the direction of the party is hindering the
development of many talented people in Vietnam. We have to say
goodbye to the old proletarian ideology.” He went on to suggest
that the USA should not grant Vietnam the prized Most Favoured
Nation trading status “until democracy is well developed.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Si Phu of possession of “secrets”
his criticism of Vietnamese government policy and may be held in
violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights (ICCPR) – of which Vietnam is a signatory –
information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers”
practice of his internationally recognised rights to free speech,
the Vietnamese government show its commitment to the ICCPR
through the immediate and unconditional release of Ha Si Phu
Appeals To
His Excellency Do Muoi
Secretary General
The Vietnamese Communist Party
Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Fax: +84 4 259 205 (or try +84 4 459 205)
Nguyen Mahn Cam
Foreign Minister
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1 Ton That Dam
Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Fax: +84 4 259 205
the Vietnamese diplomatic representative to your country
(in the United States)
His Excellency Le Van Bang
Ambassador
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
1233 20th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036 United States
Fax: + 1 202 861 0917
(in Canada)
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
25 B Davidson Dr.
Gloucester, Ontario
K1J 6L7 Canada
Fax: +1 613 744 5072
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
