“Expressing critical views about the Vietnamese government should not be a crime,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of the New York-based Human Rights Watch. “The Vietnamese government should learn to tolerate different opinions, not just those that praise the ruling party and government.”
By Defend the Defenders, October 4, 2016
On October 3, Human Rights Watch issued a statement calling on Vietnam to immediately free the blogger Nguyen Dinh Ngoc (aka Nguyen Ngoc Gia) and all other peaceful critics imprisoned for criticizing the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam and its government.
The call came two days ahead of the scheduled appeal hearing of Mr. Ngoc by the Higher People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City. On March 30, he was convicted of writing and publishing critical articles online and sentenced to four years in prison and three years under house arrest.
Mr. Ngoc, 50, is a former staff member at Ho Chi Minh City Television. He writes about social and political issues relating to democracy and human rights for the Vietnamese page of Radio Free Asia, and on politically independent websites including Dan Luan, Dan Lam Bao, and Dan Chim Viet. He has also expressed support for bloggers and activists imprisoned for exercising their basic rights, such as Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Le Quoc Quan, Dinh Nguyen Kha, and Bui Thi Minh Hang.
He was arrested on December 27, 2014 and charged with “conducting propaganda against the state” under Article 88 of the country’s Penal Code.
“The Vietnamese government should recognize that putting peaceful critics behind bars does not help with the country’s development or the government’s standing with its own people,” Mr. Adams said.
Vietnam’s new leadership has intensified its crackdown on local political dissidents, social activists and human rights in a bid to keep the nation under a one-party regime. Since the beginning of this year, Vietnam has imprisoned 18 activists, including prominent blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh and land right activist Can Thi Theu.
A number of activists, including human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai and former prisoner of conscience Tran Anh Kim have been detained for long periods without being brought to court.
Recently, the London-based Amnesty International urged Vietnam to release 82 prisoners of conscience.
Height Insoles: Hi, I do believe this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon …
http://fishinglovers.net: Appreciate you sharing, great post.Thanks Again. Keep writi…
Achilles Pain causes: Every weekend i used to pay a quick visit this site, as i w…
October 4, 2016
Human Rights Watch Urges Vietnam to Free Well-known Blogger ahead of Appeal
by Nhan Quyen • [Human Rights]
“Expressing critical views about the Vietnamese government should not be a crime,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of the New York-based Human Rights Watch. “The Vietnamese government should learn to tolerate different opinions, not just those that praise the ruling party and government.”
By Defend the Defenders, October 4, 2016
On October 3, Human Rights Watch issued a statement calling on Vietnam to immediately free the blogger Nguyen Dinh Ngoc (aka Nguyen Ngoc Gia) and all other peaceful critics imprisoned for criticizing the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam and its government.
The call came two days ahead of the scheduled appeal hearing of Mr. Ngoc by the Higher People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City. On March 30, he was convicted of writing and publishing critical articles online and sentenced to four years in prison and three years under house arrest.
Mr. Ngoc, 50, is a former staff member at Ho Chi Minh City Television. He writes about social and political issues relating to democracy and human rights for the Vietnamese page of Radio Free Asia, and on politically independent websites including Dan Luan, Dan Lam Bao, and Dan Chim Viet. He has also expressed support for bloggers and activists imprisoned for exercising their basic rights, such as Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Le Quoc Quan, Dinh Nguyen Kha, and Bui Thi Minh Hang.
He was arrested on December 27, 2014 and charged with “conducting propaganda against the state” under Article 88 of the country’s Penal Code.
“The Vietnamese government should recognize that putting peaceful critics behind bars does not help with the country’s development or the government’s standing with its own people,” Mr. Adams said.
Vietnam’s new leadership has intensified its crackdown on local political dissidents, social activists and human rights in a bid to keep the nation under a one-party regime. Since the beginning of this year, Vietnam has imprisoned 18 activists, including prominent blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh and land right activist Can Thi Theu.
A number of activists, including human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai and former prisoner of conscience Tran Anh Kim have been detained for long periods without being brought to court.
Recently, the London-based Amnesty International urged Vietnam to release 82 prisoners of conscience.