Joint statement of IJAVN and FVPoC on the Vietnam government’ violation on the right to the freedom of movement

FVPoc | Aug 28, 2014
Translation by [rollinglinks]Trang Thien Long[/rollinglinks]
Tell the World
(DTD)

Once again the Vietnam government seriously violate the right to freedom of movement of citizens relating to the trial, considered as “public”, of Bui Thi Minh Hang and her two colleagues on Aug 26, 2014 in Dong Thap province.

Once again the international community, governments interested in democracy and human rights need to know and understand deeply about the truth of the commitment that “State of Vietnam always concerns and guarantees the human rights”, even after the state has been a member of the Human Rights Council and waiting for signs of hope from TPP and lethal weapons.

Once again tens of human rights defenders and independent journalists were harassed, beaten in order to prevent them from attending the trial of Bui Thi Minh Hang, such as Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, Ven.Thich Thien Minh, former PoC Pham Ba Hai, journalist Truong Minh Duc, journalist Phan Thanh Hai, journalist Huynh Ngoc Chenh, journalist Nguyen Tuong Thuy, journalist Pham Chi Dung, etc.

Writer and former army colonel Pham Dinh Trong (over 70 years) was also subjected to a typical abduction: manhandled and illegal prevention as soon as he left his house.

Only in August 2014, journalist Pham Chi Dung – Chairman of IJAVN – has received six summonses from the HCMC interrogative department on the occasion of the Vietnam visit of the UN Rapporteur on religious freedom and of the trial of Bui Thi Minh Hang.

Besides lots of  bloggers and people sympathetic to attend the trial were detained without any pretext by Dong Thap police, there are hundreds of participators were detained, dragged and pushed away in the tense air outside the court.

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Once again the human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, International Federation for Human Rights, and United States Embassy to Vietnam had to raise their concerns on the illegal actions of the Vietnamese government that are contrary to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the constitution of the state.

Based on the recent incidents it indicates that the Vietnam government tends to prevent, manhandle roughly and illegally to the  civil society organizations, pro-democracy activists and dissidents, including independent journalists and former prisoner of conscience in any human rights, political or judicial event which may loose the government power.

We – the members of IJAVN and FVPoV  realize that it is necessary to urgently inform about intention, action of the authorities abuse human rights, the right to freedom of movement and some other basic rights of citizens so that the international community can take appropriate measure.

We also urge the Congress and the government of the United States  carefully and conditionally consider favorable policies for Vietnam as in TPP, lethal weapons, army cooperation, ODA, as well as meetings with senior leaders, as General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Hanoi party secretary Pham Quang Nghi, etc. if Vietnam does not have the lowest level to implement the basic requirements of human rights and democracy to their citizens.

This statement is not the first and also not the last about what the Vietnam government either worded but did not take action or taken action and worded are contrary.

Dated Aug 28, 2014

Co-signed by Independent Journalists Accociation of Vietnam’s and Former Vietnamese Priosoners of Consciecnce’s representavies:

Doctor Nguyen Dan Que

Father Phan Van Loi

Venerable Thich Khong Tanh

Journalist Pham Ba Hai

Lawyer Nguyen Van Dai

Journalist Pham Chi Dung

Father Le Ngoc Thanh

Journalist Bui Minh Quoc

Journalist Nguyen Tuong Thuy