Defend the Defenders | 2/6/2014
Defenders’ Weekly
During this week, eight independent social organizations raised their concerns condemning recent violent attacks against human rights activists. On May 27, the People’s Court in Tuyen Quang province conducted an appeal hearing against three Hmong ethnic individuals under Article 258 of the Criminal Code. Two members of the Vietnamese Women for Human Rights were arrested by police and detained to Hanoi when they came to participate in the “open appeal”. Numerous prisoners of conscience, including Ngô Hào, Tạ Phong Tần, and Nguyễn Xuân Nghĩa have been continued to be suppressed psychologically. The International Amnesty has decided to launch a campaign to demand release of Đỗ Thị Minh Hạnh.
**********26/5/2014**********
Traffic policemen stopped a bus, allowing mobs to attack clergies of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV)
At the noon of May 25, a delegation of clergies of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province went to Saigon to attend the funeral of Lê Thi Tuyết Mai, one clergy who just self-immolated at a front of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee building.
After leaving of Ba Ria- Vung Tau-based pagoda, the bus with the delegation was tightly followed by security agents. When the bus arrived in Saigon bridge, the bus was stopped by traffic police which said the bus was at wrong line. When the driver refused to sign the police report, the two sides exchanged words. One security agent who followed the bus jumped to beat clergies under witness of policemen.
Monk Thích Vĩnh Phước said “security agent dared to boldly beat clergies at midday showed that the moral of the police forces fell to very low level”.
==========
Vietnam’s authorities accused Viet Tan of inciting anti-China riots
According to the state media, Dong Nai province’s police arrested three suspects related to Viet Tan. The arrested reportedly admitted that they were directed and financed by Viet Tan to trigger anti-China violent demonstrations in Binh Duong and Ha Tinh province’s Vung Ang industrial zone in mid May. Meanwhile, Mr. Hoang Tu Duy, spokesman of Viet Tan affirmed that all who advocated violence were not the party’s members or partners.
It is likely that the three arrested individuals mentioned by the state-run media are Ms. Lê Thị Phương Anh, Mr. Phạm Minh Vũ and Trung Nghĩa. The trio are human rights activists arrested on May 15 near Amata IZ in Dong Nai.
Viet Tan: U.S.-based Political Party Denies Vietnam’s Accusation of Inciting Anti-China Riots
**********27/5/2014**********
Appeal hearing for two Hmong ethnic individuals
On the morning of May 27, the People’s Court in Yen Son district in Tuyen Quang province held an appeal hearing for Lý Văn Dinh and Dương Văn Tu who were charged under Article 258 of the Criminal Code which states “use rights of democracy and freedom to violate interests of state, organizations and individuals.”
Instead of being conduced the hearing at the district court building, the hearing was held in the province’s prison where ethnic people couln’t attend.
In the same morning, two members of the Vietnamese Women for Human Rights were at the scence but not allowed entering to the court room. At 10am, they were arrested by the local police and tranfered to Hanoi where they were released at 3am next day.
The sect with modern lifestyle initiated by Mr. Dương Văn Mình for Hmong people in northern provinces such as Cao Bang, Thai Nguyen, Bac Can and Tuyen Quang was banned by Vietnam’s government. In late 2012, Vietnam’s police secretly arrested nearly ten Hmong people, charged them with Article 258: Dương Văn Tu with 21-month imprisonment while Lý Văn Dinh and Hoàng Văn Sang were imprisoned for 17 months and 18 months, respectively.
Dân Làm Báo:Growing concerns over harassment of H’mong people
Dân Làm Báo: Tuyen Quang police kidnap two members of Vietnamese Women for Human Rights
********** 28/5/2014 **********
Prisoners of conscience Ngô Hào and Tạ Phong Tần were suppressed
On May 28, Ngô Hào’s wife, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Kim Lan sent a letter to international human rights organizations, calling them to voice about her husband case. Mr. Ngô Hào, one peaceful activist who fights for human rights and the country’s sovereignty, is badly treated in prison. In her letter, she informed that her husband is under great pressure from the prison’s authorities and he is planning to commit suicide. The procincial police department worked with him over the issues but he couldn’t say in details of the working with police. Currently his health is very poor while his mental was seriously deteriorated. She urgently called on international and domestic human rights bodies to voice their concerns over his case, forcing Vietnam’s authorities to treat him humanely.
Regarding the situation of political prisoner Tạ Phong Tần, her relatives informed that since she weared a hat with Hoang Sa (Paracels) and Truong Sa (Spratlys) on it, she was suppressed psychologically and treated badly. Currently, she is illed but the prison refuses to treat her. In addition, she was regularly beaten and attacked with dirty fish sauce from prison’s officials and innates.
At the latest visit of her family member, she was taken away amid of the conversation without any reason.
RFA: Vietnamese Dissidents Who Backed Anti-China Protests Harassed in Prison
VietnamRightNow: VIETNAMESE PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE HARASSED IN PRISON
Dân Làm Báo: Writing in tears, a letter from the wife of prisoner of conscience Ngo Hao
********** 29/5/2014 **********
The Vietnam Inter-religious Council condemned suppress of prison’s authorities against Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh
On May 17, Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh was publicly criticized by the prison’s authorities with dirty words which defame the pastor.
Two days latter, the Vietnam Inter-religious Council officially voiced against the public suppression against Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh of An Phuoc prison in Phu Giao district in Binh Duong province. The council state that it strongly protests against any terrorist act of prison’s authorities with aim to supress prisoners, especially the political prisoners in many prisons of the Ministry of Public Security.
The council demands the Vietnamese government to investigate these cases and punish those prison officials who conduct suppresing acts, and requests to halt these acts. It asks Vietnam’s government to respect the country’s laws and international conventions on human rights.
In adition, it demands measures for remedy as well as prevent corruption in prisons, and improve living conditions of prisoners and respect human rights of prisoners according to international standards.
Those supressing prisoners should be strictly punished, it said.
RFA: Vietnam’s Religious Leaders Highlight Harassment of Pastor in Prison
=========
The Amnesty International has decided to launch a campaign to demand for release of political prisoner Đỗ Thị Minh Hạnh
Miss Hanh’s mother Trần Ngọc Minh was interviewed by the Amnesty International’s branch in Australia’s Victoria. A representative of the body informed that the organization will launch a campaign to demand for release of Miss Hanh, one union activist is jailed by the communist government.
Attending the interview, a representative of the 8406 bloc asked the Amnesty International to demand for release of two other political prisoners Đoàn Huy Chương và Nguyễn Hoàng Quốc Hùng, the two close partners of Đỗ Thị Minh Hạnh.
Prisoner of conscience Đỗ Thị Minh Hạnh is an union activist. She was sentenced with 7-year imprisonment for assisting workers to ask for better working conditions and higher salary, as well as fighting for the country’s sovereignty. She was charged with accusation of “conducting social disorders aiming to sabotage people’s government,” according to Article 89 of the Criminal Code.
Dân Làm Báo: The Amnesty International has decided to launch a campaign to demand for release of political prisoner Đỗ Thị Minh Hạnh
==========
U.S. House Representatives asked the government to make labor rights a priority in talks with four countries, including Vietnam on Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
More than 150 representatives sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman Thursday urging him to make labor rights a priority in talks with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Mexico over a trade deal called the TPP.
“It is clear that Vietnam, in particular, must do substantial work to achieve a minimally acceptable level of respect for workers’s rights for a trading partner of the U.S.,” the letter reads.
“We need to make all efforts to prevent the U.S. market from being flooded with imported goods which are produced by workers who are treated inhumane.”
Some violations were listed, including forced labor and child labor, pregnant workers and sex discrimination. In addition, the working conditions are severe and affect workers’ health. Overtime working and salary delay are also among issues.
Democrats Ed Work Force: 153 House Democrats to USTR Froman: Protect Workers’ Rights in TPP Negotiations
********** 30/5/2014 **********
Social organizations protests violence against peaceful human rights activists
On May 30, social organizations and human rights bodies in Vietnam jointly expressed their concerns over the recent violence against local peaceful activists.
On March 21 this year, after attending human rights meeting in cafeteria in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem district, Mr. Trịnh Anh Tuấn was attacked by three plain clothed security agents.
One day latetr, Mr. Trương Văn Dũng was seriously beaten by a group of five mobs.
On March 24, Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển was attacked by a team of five people. His nose was broken along with numerous other injures.
On May 8, Mr. Nguyễn Văn Đài was attacked with a glass cup in a cafeteria. He was forced to be hospitalized for treating a head injury.
On May 25, Ms. Trần Thị Nga and her two childen were attacked by five thugs with steel batoons. Her right leg and left arm were broken. Other serious injuries were in many parts of her body.
All of attacked activists have no personnel disputes with anyone. They were beaten before or after attending peaceful activists.
According to the social organizations, these activists are closely followed by security agents so the attackers are working under cover of Vietnam’s security forces.
Vietnam’s social organizations called on foreign governments and international human rights to condemn the violence against Vietnamese activists, forcing the Vietnamese government to investigate and halt the increasing violence against local activists.
Defend the Defenders: Vietnam CSOs protest using violence against peaceful Human Rights activists
==========
Prisoner of conscience, writter Nguyễn Xuân Nghĩa is refused for health treatment
On May 31, political prisoner Nguyễn Xuân Nghĩa called from a prison to inform his family that the prison’s authorities refused to allow him taking medical treatment although he asked many times.
RFA: Prisoner of conscience, writter Nguyễn Xuân Nghĩa is refused for health treatment
Summary by Chau Van Thi.
Translation by [rollinglinks]Vu Quoc Ngu[/rollinglinks]
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June 2, 2014
May 26- June 1 Defenders’ Weekly: Vietnam’s authorities suppress prisoners of consciences
by HR Defender • [Human Rights], DEFENDER’S WEEKLY
Defend the Defenders | 2/6/2014
Defenders’ Weekly
**********26/5/2014**********
Traffic policemen stopped a bus, allowing mobs to attack clergies of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV)
At the noon of May 25, a delegation of clergies of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province went to Saigon to attend the funeral of Lê Thi Tuyết Mai, one clergy who just self-immolated at a front of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee building.
After leaving of Ba Ria- Vung Tau-based pagoda, the bus with the delegation was tightly followed by security agents. When the bus arrived in Saigon bridge, the bus was stopped by traffic police which said the bus was at wrong line. When the driver refused to sign the police report, the two sides exchanged words. One security agent who followed the bus jumped to beat clergies under witness of policemen.
Monk Thích Vĩnh Phước said “security agent dared to boldly beat clergies at midday showed that the moral of the police forces fell to very low level”.
Defend the Defenders: Traffic policemen stopped a bus, allowing mobs to attack clergies of the UBCV
==========
Vietnam’s authorities accused Viet Tan of inciting anti-China riots
According to the state media, Dong Nai province’s police arrested three suspects related to Viet Tan. The arrested reportedly admitted that they were directed and financed by Viet Tan to trigger anti-China violent demonstrations in Binh Duong and Ha Tinh province’s Vung Ang industrial zone in mid May. Meanwhile, Mr. Hoang Tu Duy, spokesman of Viet Tan affirmed that all who advocated violence were not the party’s members or partners.
It is likely that the three arrested individuals mentioned by the state-run media are Ms. Lê Thị Phương Anh, Mr. Phạm Minh Vũ and Trung Nghĩa. The trio are human rights activists arrested on May 15 near Amata IZ in Dong Nai.
Viet Tan: U.S.-based Political Party Denies Vietnam’s Accusation of Inciting Anti-China Riots
**********27/5/2014**********
Appeal hearing for two Hmong ethnic individuals
On the morning of May 27, the People’s Court in Yen Son district in Tuyen Quang province held an appeal hearing for Lý Văn Dinh and Dương Văn Tu who were charged under Article 258 of the Criminal Code which states “use rights of democracy and freedom to violate interests of state, organizations and individuals.”
Instead of being conduced the hearing at the district court building, the hearing was held in the province’s prison where ethnic people couln’t attend.
In the same morning, two members of the Vietnamese Women for Human Rights were at the scence but not allowed entering to the court room. At 10am, they were arrested by the local police and tranfered to Hanoi where they were released at 3am next day.
The sect with modern lifestyle initiated by Mr. Dương Văn Mình for Hmong people in northern provinces such as Cao Bang, Thai Nguyen, Bac Can and Tuyen Quang was banned by Vietnam’s government. In late 2012, Vietnam’s police secretly arrested nearly ten Hmong people, charged them with Article 258: Dương Văn Tu with 21-month imprisonment while Lý Văn Dinh and Hoàng Văn Sang were imprisoned for 17 months and 18 months, respectively.
Dân Làm Báo:Growing concerns over harassment of H’mong people
Dân Làm Báo: Tuyen Quang police kidnap two members of Vietnamese Women for Human Rights
********** 28/5/2014 **********
Prisoners of conscience Ngô Hào and Tạ Phong Tần were suppressed
On May 28, Ngô Hào’s wife, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Kim Lan sent a letter to international human rights organizations, calling them to voice about her husband case. Mr. Ngô Hào, one peaceful activist who fights for human rights and the country’s sovereignty, is badly treated in prison. In her letter, she informed that her husband is under great pressure from the prison’s authorities and he is planning to commit suicide. The procincial police department worked with him over the issues but he couldn’t say in details of the working with police. Currently his health is very poor while his mental was seriously deteriorated. She urgently called on international and domestic human rights bodies to voice their concerns over his case, forcing Vietnam’s authorities to treat him humanely.
Regarding the situation of political prisoner Tạ Phong Tần, her relatives informed that since she weared a hat with Hoang Sa (Paracels) and Truong Sa (Spratlys) on it, she was suppressed psychologically and treated badly. Currently, she is illed but the prison refuses to treat her. In addition, she was regularly beaten and attacked with dirty fish sauce from prison’s officials and innates.
At the latest visit of her family member, she was taken away amid of the conversation without any reason.
RFA: Vietnamese Dissidents Who Backed Anti-China Protests Harassed in Prison
VietnamRightNow: VIETNAMESE PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE HARASSED IN PRISON
Dân Làm Báo: Writing in tears, a letter from the wife of prisoner of conscience Ngo Hao
********** 29/5/2014 **********
The Vietnam Inter-religious Council condemned suppress of prison’s authorities against Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh
On May 17, Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh was publicly criticized by the prison’s authorities with dirty words which defame the pastor.
Two days latter, the Vietnam Inter-religious Council officially voiced against the public suppression against Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh of An Phuoc prison in Phu Giao district in Binh Duong province. The council state that it strongly protests against any terrorist act of prison’s authorities with aim to supress prisoners, especially the political prisoners in many prisons of the Ministry of Public Security.
The council demands the Vietnamese government to investigate these cases and punish those prison officials who conduct suppresing acts, and requests to halt these acts. It asks Vietnam’s government to respect the country’s laws and international conventions on human rights.
In adition, it demands measures for remedy as well as prevent corruption in prisons, and improve living conditions of prisoners and respect human rights of prisoners according to international standards.
Those supressing prisoners should be strictly punished, it said.
RFA: Vietnam’s Religious Leaders Highlight Harassment of Pastor in Prison
=========
The Amnesty International has decided to launch a campaign to demand for release of political prisoner Đỗ Thị Minh Hạnh
Miss Hanh’s mother Trần Ngọc Minh was interviewed by the Amnesty International’s branch in Australia’s Victoria. A representative of the body informed that the organization will launch a campaign to demand for release of Miss Hanh, one union activist is jailed by the communist government.
Attending the interview, a representative of the 8406 bloc asked the Amnesty International to demand for release of two other political prisoners Đoàn Huy Chương và Nguyễn Hoàng Quốc Hùng, the two close partners of Đỗ Thị Minh Hạnh.
Prisoner of conscience Đỗ Thị Minh Hạnh is an union activist. She was sentenced with 7-year imprisonment for assisting workers to ask for better working conditions and higher salary, as well as fighting for the country’s sovereignty. She was charged with accusation of “conducting social disorders aiming to sabotage people’s government,” according to Article 89 of the Criminal Code.
Dân Làm Báo: The Amnesty International has decided to launch a campaign to demand for release of political prisoner Đỗ Thị Minh Hạnh
==========
U.S. House Representatives asked the government to make labor rights a priority in talks with four countries, including Vietnam on Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
More than 150 representatives sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman Thursday urging him to make labor rights a priority in talks with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Mexico over a trade deal called the TPP.
“It is clear that Vietnam, in particular, must do substantial work to achieve a minimally acceptable level of respect for workers’s rights for a trading partner of the U.S.,” the letter reads.
“We need to make all efforts to prevent the U.S. market from being flooded with imported goods which are produced by workers who are treated inhumane.”
Some violations were listed, including forced labor and child labor, pregnant workers and sex discrimination. In addition, the working conditions are severe and affect workers’ health. Overtime working and salary delay are also among issues.
Democrats Ed Work Force: 153 House Democrats to USTR Froman: Protect Workers’ Rights in TPP Negotiations
********** 30/5/2014 **********
Social organizations protests violence against peaceful human rights activists
On May 30, social organizations and human rights bodies in Vietnam jointly expressed their concerns over the recent violence against local peaceful activists.
On March 21 this year, after attending human rights meeting in cafeteria in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem district, Mr. Trịnh Anh Tuấn was attacked by three plain clothed security agents.
One day latetr, Mr. Trương Văn Dũng was seriously beaten by a group of five mobs.
On March 24, Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển was attacked by a team of five people. His nose was broken along with numerous other injures.
On May 8, Mr. Nguyễn Văn Đài was attacked with a glass cup in a cafeteria. He was forced to be hospitalized for treating a head injury.
On May 25, Ms. Trần Thị Nga and her two childen were attacked by five thugs with steel batoons. Her right leg and left arm were broken. Other serious injuries were in many parts of her body.
All of attacked activists have no personnel disputes with anyone. They were beaten before or after attending peaceful activists.
According to the social organizations, these activists are closely followed by security agents so the attackers are working under cover of Vietnam’s security forces.
Vietnam’s social organizations called on foreign governments and international human rights to condemn the violence against Vietnamese activists, forcing the Vietnamese government to investigate and halt the increasing violence against local activists.
Defend the Defenders: Vietnam CSOs protest using violence against peaceful Human Rights activists
==========
Prisoner of conscience, writter Nguyễn Xuân Nghĩa is refused for health treatment
On May 31, political prisoner Nguyễn Xuân Nghĩa called from a prison to inform his family that the prison’s authorities refused to allow him taking medical treatment although he asked many times.
RFA: Prisoner of conscience, writter Nguyễn Xuân Nghĩa is refused for health treatment
Summary by Chau Van Thi.
Translation by [rollinglinks]Vu Quoc Ngu[/rollinglinks]