Carr raises human rights with Vietnam

carr-raises-human-rights-with-vietnam

Foreign Minister Bob Carr has asked the Vietnamese government to release three Australian activists. Source: AAP

AAP

CourierMail | 2 July 2013 |

FOREIGN Minister Bob Carr has asked the Vietnamese government to release three Vietnamese trade union activists from prison.

Nguyen Hoang Quoc Hung, Doan Huy Chuong and Do Thi Minh Hanh were convicted in 2010 for their involvement in a strike at a shoe factory.

“We place great importance on the protection of freedom of association and the freedom to form labour unions,” Senator Carr said in a statement.

“Today I requested that Vietnam release these individuals.”

Senator Carr met with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Brunei.

He also raised the cases of detained lawyer Cu Huy Ha Vu who had been a hunger strike to draw attention to prison conditions affecting his health, and Le Quoc Quan, who will face charges of tax evasion on July 9.

Senator Carr said the Vietnamese foreign minister said he would ask for all five cases to be investigated.

Source: CourierMail

[subscribe2]