By Defend the Defenders, December 20, 2016
U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius has said that he is deeply concerned by sentencing of two Vietnamese pro-democracy activists Tran Anh Kim and Le Thanh Tung, according to a media release of the Embassy on Dec 19.
The media release was made three days after Vietnam’s court convicted Mr. Kim and Mr. Tung for activities allegedly aimed at “overthrowing” the state under Article 79 of the 1999 Penal Code. The two democracy fighters were sentenced to 13 years and 12 years in prison and to five and four years under house arrest, respectively.
All people should have the right to freedom of speech and association, the outgoing ambassador said, noting the recent trend of arrests and convictions of peaceful activists is troubling and threatens to overshadow Vietnam’s progress on human rights.
The lengthy duration of the prison sentences are significant for their severity as well, he added.
Washington calls on Hanoi to release these individuals and all other prisoners of conscience, and to allow all individuals in Vietnam to express their political views without fear of retribution, the media release said.
The Embassy also urge Vietnam’s government to ensure its laws and actions are consistent with the human rights provisions of the country’s 2013 Constitution, and its international obligations and commitments.
The imprisonments against Kim and Tung met criticism worldwide. On Friday, few hours after the trial against Kim and Tung ended, Amnesty International issued a public statement to condemn the detention of human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai and the long sentences against Mr. Kim and Mr. Tung, saying they were detained solely for exercising their right of freedom of speech and association. The London-based organization urged Vietnam to unconditionally and immediately release them and other prisoners of conscience.
Mr. Kim and Mr. Tung are among twenty Vietnamese activists being tried and jailed this year, raising the total political prisoners to over 130, according to Human Rights Watch.
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December 20, 2016
U.S. Ambassador Concerned about Imprisonments of Two Vietnamese Activists
by Nhan Quyen • Le Thanh Tung, Tran Anh Kim
By Defend the Defenders, December 20, 2016
U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius has said that he is deeply concerned by sentencing of two Vietnamese pro-democracy activists Tran Anh Kim and Le Thanh Tung, according to a media release of the Embassy on Dec 19.
The media release was made three days after Vietnam’s court convicted Mr. Kim and Mr. Tung for activities allegedly aimed at “overthrowing” the state under Article 79 of the 1999 Penal Code. The two democracy fighters were sentenced to 13 years and 12 years in prison and to five and four years under house arrest, respectively.
All people should have the right to freedom of speech and association, the outgoing ambassador said, noting the recent trend of arrests and convictions of peaceful activists is troubling and threatens to overshadow Vietnam’s progress on human rights.
The lengthy duration of the prison sentences are significant for their severity as well, he added.
Washington calls on Hanoi to release these individuals and all other prisoners of conscience, and to allow all individuals in Vietnam to express their political views without fear of retribution, the media release said.
The Embassy also urge Vietnam’s government to ensure its laws and actions are consistent with the human rights provisions of the country’s 2013 Constitution, and its international obligations and commitments.
The imprisonments against Kim and Tung met criticism worldwide. On Friday, few hours after the trial against Kim and Tung ended, Amnesty International issued a public statement to condemn the detention of human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai and the long sentences against Mr. Kim and Mr. Tung, saying they were detained solely for exercising their right of freedom of speech and association. The London-based organization urged Vietnam to unconditionally and immediately release them and other prisoners of conscience.
Mr. Kim and Mr. Tung are among twenty Vietnamese activists being tried and jailed this year, raising the total political prisoners to over 130, according to Human Rights Watch.