Vietnam: Carry out an immediate investigation into the violent attack on Dinh Quang Tuyen

Spyghana | May 25, 2015

Nguyen Tan Dung

Government Office

1 Hoang Hoa Tham Street

Ba Dinh District

Ha Noi

Viet Nam

Fax: +84 80 44130/ +84 80 44940

Email: nguoiphatngonchinhphu@chinhphu.vn

Dear Prime Minister,

I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human rights defender and Freelance journalist.

I would like to draw your attention to the following case.

On 19 May 2015, human rights defender Mr Dinh Quang Tuyen was attacked by two unknown men near his home in Saigon.

Dinh Quang Tuyen founded the ‘Nuoc Nha Khong Ban’ (Don’t Sell Our Country) movement to protest against China’s policy in the disputed South China Sea. He has also spoken out publicly in support of harassed human rights defenders in Vietnam and denounced police abuses.

The attack on Dinh Quang Tuyen took place in the early hours of the morning after he left his house on his bicycle. Approximately 100 meters from his home on Cao Lo Street in the Dong Dieu area of Saigon, the human rights defender was forced to a stop by two young men wearing surgical masks, who then punched him in the face. The offenders immediately fled the scene on a motorcycle. Dinh Quang Tuyen was able to return home despite bleeding profusely. He was then taken to hospital afterwards. He suffered a fractured nose.

Upon leaving his house on the morning of the attack, the human rights defender noticed a man sitting in front of the house and observing him. Immediately after Tuyen’s appearance, the man, whom Dinh Quang Tuyen recognised as Lieutenant Huy from the local police, called someone on his phone. According to the human rights defender, he has been under police surveillance for several months. This leads to believe that police officials may be behind the attack.

Prior to the attack, Tuyen had repeatedly used social media to express his opposition to violent police actions targeting human rights defenders in Vietnam, such as Nguyen Chi Tuyen, who was attacked on 11 May 2015.

I express my concern at the attack on Dinh Quang Tuyen, which I believe to be in retaliation for his criticism of police abuses and to constitute an attempt to silence him and to force him to halt his work in the defence of human rights.

I urge the authorities in Vietnam to:

1. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Dinh Quang Tuyen;

2. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the violent attack on Dinh Quang Tuyen, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Vietnam are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.

Sincerely,

William Nicholas Gomes

Human Rights Defender &  Freelance Journalist

Twitter @wnicholasgomes

Email: william@williamnicholasgomes.com

www.facebook.com/williamnicholasgomes