Defenders’ Weekly | 20/10/2014
Defend the Defenders
On Jan 09, 2013, Vietnamese people and international human rights bodies raised their concerns about an unfair trial of Hanoi’s communist government against a group of 14 young Catholic and Protestant followers in Nghe An province who were accused of conducting anti-state activities under Article 79 of the country’s Criminal Code. In a hearing which did not meet international standards, the 14 young activists were sentenced to total 83 years in prison and 42 years under house arrest. Among them, Dang Xuan Dieu, Ho Duc Hoa and Le Van Son are with heaviest sentences, 13 years imprisonment and five years of probation.
On Oct 17, members of the Independent Journalist Association of Vietnam (IJAVN) in the southern region held a regular meeting on Saigon Steakhouse cafeteria in Ho Chi Minh City. However, IJAVN’s President Pham Chi Dung was blocked by local security agents, so the meeting was chaired by 73-year Bui Minh Quoc, who came from Da Lat, 300 kilometers away from the HCM city. Veteran writer Pham Dinh Trong unexpectedly met no difficulties to attend the meeting on which participants actively discussed a number of topics.
and other interesting news
******13/10/2014*******
Activists Ask Vietnam Parliament to Publicize Vietnam-China Agreement in Chengdu in 1990
As part of a campaign “We want to know”, Vietnamese activists planned to send their request demanding the country’s legislative body National Assembly (NA) to publicize the 1990’s agreement (Chengdu Agreement) between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of China (CPC). The letter with the request will be sent to NA’s offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by local activists on Oct 15.
The right to be informed is a basic right for every citizen while the Chengdu Agreement has crucial consequences for Vietnam’s development.
If the request of activists is not met, it may be true that under the Chengdu Agreement, the ruling CPV is selling the country’s sovereignty and independence to China. The silence of the NA will be a clear answer to Vietnamese people about the agreement’s dangerous consequences.
MangluoiBlogger: Lời kêu gọi thực thi Quyền Được Biết của người dân: Yêu cầu Quốc hội bạch hóa Hội nghị Thành Đô
******14/10/2014******
Interviewing Former Political Prisoner Truong Minh Tam about Prisoner of Conscience Dang Xuan Dieu
In October last year, Mr. Truong Minh Tam was arrested and alleged of financial fraud by the communist government. However, Tam was actually arrested and imprisoned for his political activities, including participation in demonstrations against China’s violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea, and online articles for multi-party democracy.
During his imprisonment in Prison No. 5 in the central province of Thanh Hoa started on April 23, he was placed near the solitary cell where the prison holds Dang Xuan Dieu, another political prisoner.
Tam has known Dieu since 2013 when Dieu and 13 other young Catholic and Protestant followers were arrested for peaceful activities. He tried to attend the group’s trial but was detained by Nghe An’s police when he approached the court room.
In his interview, Mr. Tam said his cell was very close to that of Dieu. Prison’s authorities sent their antennae to every cell. Prisoners who violet prison’s rules will be placed in special cells with very bad conditions and the prison’s authorities review attitudes of punished individuals every ten days. Prisoners may be put back to ordinary rooms if they showed good attitude and obeyed the prison’s rules, otherwise, they will be held in solitary cells with harsh treatment for three months, six months and longer.
DTD: Phỏng Vấn TNLT Trương Ba Tam về TNLT Đặng Xuân Diệu
Vietbao: Tiếng đập tường của Diệu
**************
Vietnam Allowed Joining TPP?
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is expected to be a great chance for Vietnam to raise its economy’s growth, especially in the time when Vietnam wants to reduce its economical reliance on China. U.S. President Barack Obama also wants to complete TPP’s negotiation by the end of this year before taking Asian tour. Despite the U.S.’s willingness to enhance its Asia pivoted, there are a number of obstacles and challenges for Vietnam’s joining to TPP, said experts.
The TPP is a state-of-the-art, 21st century trade agreement that will connect more than 40 percent of the global GDP and one-third of global trade, and it raises the standard, said State Secretary John Kerry in his remark at the 30th anniversary Gala Reception of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (U.S.-ABC) held in Washington on Oct 2.
In his speech, Kerry called on American companies to lobby the Congress to approve the pact.
“We need you to help make the case for TPP with the Congress and with the American people, and we need you to make the phone calls and set up the meetings and do all you can to get Capitol Hill on board,” he said.
U.S.-ABC President Alexander Feldman told the Voice of America radio that the TPP would help Vietnam develop a lot and it will create opportunities for businesses from the two countries.
Vietnam has participated in TPP negotiation since late 2010. The partners of the pact include the U.S. and ten other countries in Asia-Pacific region. According to the statistics of the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. was the leading foreign investor in Vietnam in 2009, with total investment of $9.8 billion.
In recent years, some American companies have become among biggest foreign investors in Vietnam.
VRNs: Nỗi khổ dân oan Nguyễn Thị Thúy
*******16/10/2014*******
Appeal for Three Hmong Ethnic People
On Oct 16, the People’s Court in Bac Kan province held an appeal for three Hmong ethnic people namely Hoang Van Su, Hoang Van Sinh and Duong Van Thanh who were charged to violate Article 258 of the Criminal Code in the trial in July.
Lawyer Tran Thu Nam, who represented the trio in the appeal informed that the court reduced Hoang Van Su’s sentence from 18 months to 15 months in jail while upheld 24 months and 15 months imprisonment for Duong Van Thanh and Hoang Van Sinh, respectively. Su committed his allegation and begged for pardon while Thanh and Sinh said they are innocent, Mr. Nam noted.
Many Hmong people from Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Thai Nguyen and Tuye Quang gathered in Bac Kan in a bid to attend the appeal for the trio, however, they were not allowed to enter the courtroom.
VOA: Việt Nam sẽ có TPP?
==========
Vietnam and EU Agree to Soon Complete FTA Negotiations
During his tour to the EU last week, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held a meeting with President of the European Commission (EC) Manuel Barroso in Brussels on Oct 13, on which Hanoi and Brussels agreed to speed up negotiations on the free trade agreement (FTA) so the two sides can sign the pact several later.
After the meeting, PM dung emphasized that both Hanoi and Brussels considered the EU-Vietnam FTA can help the two sides resolve economic challenges now and in the future. The two sides agreed to complete the negotiations for signing after several months, he noted.
Vietnam asked the EU to recognize its market economy when the two sides complete negotiations.
The EU plays very important roles in Vietnam’s economy. Currently, the 28-nation bloc is the second largest export market and trade partner for Vietnam. In addition, it is also among leading foreign investors in the Southeast Asian nation.
RFA: Phiên tòa phúc thẩm ba người dân tộc H’mong
*******17/10/2014*******
Those Who Want to Know Receive Answer
Those who participating in the “We want to know” campaign received a clear answer when they went to the parliament’s office in Hanoi on Oct 15 to hand over a request which demands the country’s legislative body National Assembly to publicize the Chengdu Agreement.
In response to activists’ demand, numerous security agents, militia and government-supporting activists barred them from approaching the NA’s office.
The handover of the request is part of the activities launched by Vietnam Blogger Network. The event was announced several days earlier.
The organizers will send the request to NA’s office in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by mail.
Rfavietnam: Những người “muốn biết” đã nhận được “câu trả lời”
*******18/10/2014*******
Vietnam Interfair Council Voices about Terrible Situations of Prisoner of Conscience Dang Xuan Dieu and Others
On Jan 09, 2013, Vietnamese people and international human rights bodies raised their concerns about an unfair trial of Hanoi’s communist government against a group of 14 young Catholic and Protestant followers in Nghe An province who were accused of conducting anti-state activities under Article 79 of the country’s Criminal Code. In a hearing which did not meet international standards, the 14 young activists were sentenced to total 83 years in prison and 42 years under house arrest. Among them, Dang Xuan Dieu, Ho Duc Hoa and Le Van Son are with heaviest sentences, 13 years imprisonment and five years of probation.
During their imprisonments, these young activists have been mistreated by prison’s authorities who want to suppress them in order to force them to commit allegation. Holding flattered in solitary cells, providing limited food and drink, providing no proper medical services, holding in placed with insufficient hygiene, hiring criminal prisoner to beat them, not allowing meeting relatives as well as prohibiting practicing religious rituals.
Many political prisoners have conducted hunger strike to protest inhumane treatment of the communist prisons.
Thanks to information from his family and another political prisoner who recently completed his sentence, the critical situation of Dieu was unveiled when he is held in Prison No. 5 in Yen Dinh district in Thanh Hoa province.
After the trial, Dieu has been placed in the prison where he is held consecutively in a solitary cell. Sometime, he was beaten by prison’s guards. Between April 22 and Oct 13 last year, he was forced to share room with a murder-committed prisoner who treated Dieu like his slave.
Many times, Dieu was punished to spend in disciplined room where he was flattered, forced to drink dirty water. He was left without blankets and water for bath.
In order to protest inhumane treatment against him and other prisoners, Dieu has regularly conducted hunger strike due to which his health was worsened seriously.
His health is under critical situation while his 70-year mother is under medical treatment.
DTD: HỘI ĐỒNG LIÊN TÔN VIỆT NAM Bản Lên Tiếng về tù nhân lương tâm Đặng Xuân Diệu và các tù nhân lương tâm khác
*******19/10/2014********
Former Political Prisoner Do Thi Minh Hanh Allowed to Visit Family in Vienna
Ms. Do Thi Minh Hanh, a former political prisoner and labor activist who was released on June 28, was allowed this week to travel to Austria to meet her family there. Earlier on Sept 3, she was banned to go abroad to visit her mother Tran the Ngoc Minh who is under medical treatment in Vienna.
Her travel to Austria was unexpectedly permitted ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to the EU. On Oct 16, Hahn arrived in Vienna to meet her relatives.
From Vienna, Ms. Hahn gave an interview to the Radio of Free Asia, saying she is wishing her fellows Nguyen Hoang Quos Hung and Doan Hay Chong as well as other political prisoners such as Nguyen Van Hay and Ta Phuong Tan to be released.
She said she will continue to fight for democracy and freedom for Vietnam as well as support families of Hung and Chong for their freedom.
She also called for the release of Mai the Dung, with whom she shared the same room during her four-year imprisonment. Dung is seriously ill and needs urgent medical treatment, Hanh noted.
RFA: Cô Đỗ Thị Minh Hạnh trả lời RFA từ Vienna, Áo Quốc
===========
Quang Ninh Residents Bring Coffine to Police Station to Protest Policemen Killing Their Relative
Over one hundred of people in Mong Cai town in the northern province of Quang Ninh brought a coffin to the local administrative building to protest the police’s killing of one local resident.
According to Dan Tri newswire, Mong Cai police arrested victim Nguyen Van Suu who was suspected to fire and cause serious injury for one local resident in Binh Ngoc ward.
Suu, who was held in the Mong Cai police detention, was found died later and the police informed that he committed suicide by hanging himself.
Suu’s family did not agree with the police’s explanation. They said Suu couldn’t hang himself to window which is under his shoulder.
Over 100 people brought a coffin to the Binh Ngoc ward People’s Committee to demand justice for Mr. Suu.
There are a number of cases on which police’s torture leads to deaths of detained suspects in police station in recent years. No policeman has been strictly punished for his brutal acts.
RFA: Người dân đem quan tài biểu tình phản đối công an đánh chết người
*Summary by Nguyen Ngoc Anh
**Translation by [rollinglinks]Vu Quoc Ngu[/rollinglinks]
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October 20, 2014
Oct 13-19, 2014 Defenders’ Weekly: Vietnam Interfair Council Voices about Terrible Situations of Prisoner of Conscience Dang Xuan Dieu and Others
by Defend the Defenders • [Human Rights], DEFENDER’S WEEKLY
Defenders’ Weekly | 20/10/2014
Defend the Defenders
On Jan 09, 2013, Vietnamese people and international human rights bodies raised their concerns about an unfair trial of Hanoi’s communist government against a group of 14 young Catholic and Protestant followers in Nghe An province who were accused of conducting anti-state activities under Article 79 of the country’s Criminal Code. In a hearing which did not meet international standards, the 14 young activists were sentenced to total 83 years in prison and 42 years under house arrest. Among them, Dang Xuan Dieu, Ho Duc Hoa and Le Van Son are with heaviest sentences, 13 years imprisonment and five years of probation.
On Oct 17, members of the Independent Journalist Association of Vietnam (IJAVN) in the southern region held a regular meeting on Saigon Steakhouse cafeteria in Ho Chi Minh City. However, IJAVN’s President Pham Chi Dung was blocked by local security agents, so the meeting was chaired by 73-year Bui Minh Quoc, who came from Da Lat, 300 kilometers away from the HCM city. Veteran writer Pham Dinh Trong unexpectedly met no difficulties to attend the meeting on which participants actively discussed a number of topics.
and other interesting news
******13/10/2014*******
Activists Ask Vietnam Parliament to Publicize Vietnam-China Agreement in Chengdu in 1990
As part of a campaign “We want to know”, Vietnamese activists planned to send their request demanding the country’s legislative body National Assembly (NA) to publicize the 1990’s agreement (Chengdu Agreement) between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of China (CPC). The letter with the request will be sent to NA’s offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by local activists on Oct 15.
The right to be informed is a basic right for every citizen while the Chengdu Agreement has crucial consequences for Vietnam’s development.
If the request of activists is not met, it may be true that under the Chengdu Agreement, the ruling CPV is selling the country’s sovereignty and independence to China. The silence of the NA will be a clear answer to Vietnamese people about the agreement’s dangerous consequences.
MangluoiBlogger: Lời kêu gọi thực thi Quyền Được Biết của người dân: Yêu cầu Quốc hội bạch hóa Hội nghị Thành Đô
******14/10/2014******
Interviewing Former Political Prisoner Truong Minh Tam about Prisoner of Conscience Dang Xuan Dieu
In October last year, Mr. Truong Minh Tam was arrested and alleged of financial fraud by the communist government. However, Tam was actually arrested and imprisoned for his political activities, including participation in demonstrations against China’s violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea, and online articles for multi-party democracy.
During his imprisonment in Prison No. 5 in the central province of Thanh Hoa started on April 23, he was placed near the solitary cell where the prison holds Dang Xuan Dieu, another political prisoner.
Tam has known Dieu since 2013 when Dieu and 13 other young Catholic and Protestant followers were arrested for peaceful activities. He tried to attend the group’s trial but was detained by Nghe An’s police when he approached the court room.
In his interview, Mr. Tam said his cell was very close to that of Dieu. Prison’s authorities sent their antennae to every cell. Prisoners who violet prison’s rules will be placed in special cells with very bad conditions and the prison’s authorities review attitudes of punished individuals every ten days. Prisoners may be put back to ordinary rooms if they showed good attitude and obeyed the prison’s rules, otherwise, they will be held in solitary cells with harsh treatment for three months, six months and longer.
DTD: Phỏng Vấn TNLT Trương Ba Tam về TNLT Đặng Xuân Diệu
Vietbao: Tiếng đập tường của Diệu
**************
Vietnam Allowed Joining TPP?
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is expected to be a great chance for Vietnam to raise its economy’s growth, especially in the time when Vietnam wants to reduce its economical reliance on China. U.S. President Barack Obama also wants to complete TPP’s negotiation by the end of this year before taking Asian tour. Despite the U.S.’s willingness to enhance its Asia pivoted, there are a number of obstacles and challenges for Vietnam’s joining to TPP, said experts.
The TPP is a state-of-the-art, 21st century trade agreement that will connect more than 40 percent of the global GDP and one-third of global trade, and it raises the standard, said State Secretary John Kerry in his remark at the 30th anniversary Gala Reception of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (U.S.-ABC) held in Washington on Oct 2.
In his speech, Kerry called on American companies to lobby the Congress to approve the pact.
“We need you to help make the case for TPP with the Congress and with the American people, and we need you to make the phone calls and set up the meetings and do all you can to get Capitol Hill on board,” he said.
U.S.-ABC President Alexander Feldman told the Voice of America radio that the TPP would help Vietnam develop a lot and it will create opportunities for businesses from the two countries.
Vietnam has participated in TPP negotiation since late 2010. The partners of the pact include the U.S. and ten other countries in Asia-Pacific region. According to the statistics of the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. was the leading foreign investor in Vietnam in 2009, with total investment of $9.8 billion.
In recent years, some American companies have become among biggest foreign investors in Vietnam.
VRNs: Nỗi khổ dân oan Nguyễn Thị Thúy
*******16/10/2014*******
Appeal for Three Hmong Ethnic People
On Oct 16, the People’s Court in Bac Kan province held an appeal for three Hmong ethnic people namely Hoang Van Su, Hoang Van Sinh and Duong Van Thanh who were charged to violate Article 258 of the Criminal Code in the trial in July.
Lawyer Tran Thu Nam, who represented the trio in the appeal informed that the court reduced Hoang Van Su’s sentence from 18 months to 15 months in jail while upheld 24 months and 15 months imprisonment for Duong Van Thanh and Hoang Van Sinh, respectively. Su committed his allegation and begged for pardon while Thanh and Sinh said they are innocent, Mr. Nam noted.
Many Hmong people from Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Thai Nguyen and Tuye Quang gathered in Bac Kan in a bid to attend the appeal for the trio, however, they were not allowed to enter the courtroom.
VOA: Việt Nam sẽ có TPP?
==========
Vietnam and EU Agree to Soon Complete FTA Negotiations
During his tour to the EU last week, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held a meeting with President of the European Commission (EC) Manuel Barroso in Brussels on Oct 13, on which Hanoi and Brussels agreed to speed up negotiations on the free trade agreement (FTA) so the two sides can sign the pact several later.
After the meeting, PM dung emphasized that both Hanoi and Brussels considered the EU-Vietnam FTA can help the two sides resolve economic challenges now and in the future. The two sides agreed to complete the negotiations for signing after several months, he noted.
Vietnam asked the EU to recognize its market economy when the two sides complete negotiations.
The EU plays very important roles in Vietnam’s economy. Currently, the 28-nation bloc is the second largest export market and trade partner for Vietnam. In addition, it is also among leading foreign investors in the Southeast Asian nation.
RFA: Phiên tòa phúc thẩm ba người dân tộc H’mong
*******17/10/2014*******
Those Who Want to Know Receive Answer
Those who participating in the “We want to know” campaign received a clear answer when they went to the parliament’s office in Hanoi on Oct 15 to hand over a request which demands the country’s legislative body National Assembly to publicize the Chengdu Agreement.
In response to activists’ demand, numerous security agents, militia and government-supporting activists barred them from approaching the NA’s office.
The handover of the request is part of the activities launched by Vietnam Blogger Network. The event was announced several days earlier.
The organizers will send the request to NA’s office in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by mail.
Rfavietnam: Những người “muốn biết” đã nhận được “câu trả lời”
*******18/10/2014*******
Vietnam Interfair Council Voices about Terrible Situations of Prisoner of Conscience Dang Xuan Dieu and Others
On Jan 09, 2013, Vietnamese people and international human rights bodies raised their concerns about an unfair trial of Hanoi’s communist government against a group of 14 young Catholic and Protestant followers in Nghe An province who were accused of conducting anti-state activities under Article 79 of the country’s Criminal Code. In a hearing which did not meet international standards, the 14 young activists were sentenced to total 83 years in prison and 42 years under house arrest. Among them, Dang Xuan Dieu, Ho Duc Hoa and Le Van Son are with heaviest sentences, 13 years imprisonment and five years of probation.
During their imprisonments, these young activists have been mistreated by prison’s authorities who want to suppress them in order to force them to commit allegation. Holding flattered in solitary cells, providing limited food and drink, providing no proper medical services, holding in placed with insufficient hygiene, hiring criminal prisoner to beat them, not allowing meeting relatives as well as prohibiting practicing religious rituals.
Many political prisoners have conducted hunger strike to protest inhumane treatment of the communist prisons.
Thanks to information from his family and another political prisoner who recently completed his sentence, the critical situation of Dieu was unveiled when he is held in Prison No. 5 in Yen Dinh district in Thanh Hoa province.
After the trial, Dieu has been placed in the prison where he is held consecutively in a solitary cell. Sometime, he was beaten by prison’s guards. Between April 22 and Oct 13 last year, he was forced to share room with a murder-committed prisoner who treated Dieu like his slave.
Many times, Dieu was punished to spend in disciplined room where he was flattered, forced to drink dirty water. He was left without blankets and water for bath.
In order to protest inhumane treatment against him and other prisoners, Dieu has regularly conducted hunger strike due to which his health was worsened seriously.
His health is under critical situation while his 70-year mother is under medical treatment.
DTD: HỘI ĐỒNG LIÊN TÔN VIỆT NAM Bản Lên Tiếng về tù nhân lương tâm Đặng Xuân Diệu và các tù nhân lương tâm khác
*******19/10/2014********
Former Political Prisoner Do Thi Minh Hanh Allowed to Visit Family in Vienna
Ms. Do Thi Minh Hanh, a former political prisoner and labor activist who was released on June 28, was allowed this week to travel to Austria to meet her family there. Earlier on Sept 3, she was banned to go abroad to visit her mother Tran the Ngoc Minh who is under medical treatment in Vienna.
Her travel to Austria was unexpectedly permitted ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to the EU. On Oct 16, Hahn arrived in Vienna to meet her relatives.
From Vienna, Ms. Hahn gave an interview to the Radio of Free Asia, saying she is wishing her fellows Nguyen Hoang Quos Hung and Doan Hay Chong as well as other political prisoners such as Nguyen Van Hay and Ta Phuong Tan to be released.
She said she will continue to fight for democracy and freedom for Vietnam as well as support families of Hung and Chong for their freedom.
She also called for the release of Mai the Dung, with whom she shared the same room during her four-year imprisonment. Dung is seriously ill and needs urgent medical treatment, Hanh noted.
RFA: Cô Đỗ Thị Minh Hạnh trả lời RFA từ Vienna, Áo Quốc
===========
Quang Ninh Residents Bring Coffine to Police Station to Protest Policemen Killing Their Relative
Over one hundred of people in Mong Cai town in the northern province of Quang Ninh brought a coffin to the local administrative building to protest the police’s killing of one local resident.
According to Dan Tri newswire, Mong Cai police arrested victim Nguyen Van Suu who was suspected to fire and cause serious injury for one local resident in Binh Ngoc ward.
Suu, who was held in the Mong Cai police detention, was found died later and the police informed that he committed suicide by hanging himself.
Suu’s family did not agree with the police’s explanation. They said Suu couldn’t hang himself to window which is under his shoulder.
Over 100 people brought a coffin to the Binh Ngoc ward People’s Committee to demand justice for Mr. Suu.
There are a number of cases on which police’s torture leads to deaths of detained suspects in police station in recent years. No policeman has been strictly punished for his brutal acts.
RFA: Người dân đem quan tài biểu tình phản đối công an đánh chết người
*Summary by Nguyen Ngoc Anh
**Translation by [rollinglinks]Vu Quoc Ngu[/rollinglinks]