Human Rights Lawyer Nguyen Van Dai
By Defend the Defenders, December 28, 2016
Vietnam’s Supreme People’s Procuracy has extended the pre-trial detention for prominent human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai for third time since his arrest on December 16 last year.
In its notice sent to Ha Huy Son, a lawyer of Mr. Dai, the Supreme People’s Procuracy said the investigation period will be extended until April 17, 16 months since Dai’s detention in late 2015.
According to Vietnam’s Penal Code Procedure Law, Dai’s lawyers will be allowed to meet him after the police agency completes investigation to prepare for his defense, the Supreme People’s Procuracy said.
Mr. Dai, the founder of Vietnam Human Rights Center and the Brotherhood of Democracy, was arrested together with his assistant Ms. Le Thu Ha on allegation of conducting anti-state propaganda under Article 88 of the Penal Code.
The duo is facing imprisonment of between twelve and 20 years, according to the current Vietnamese law.
Mr. Dai has been held in incommunicado as he has not been allowed to meet with his lawyers and relatives while his wife was permitted to meet him once since late 2015.
In mid-December, security forces detained a number of activists, including Tran Duc Thach, Nguyen Bac Truyen and Truong Minh Duc and questioned them about their relationship with Mr. Dai. Some observers said that Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security, which is under great international pressure, has sought new evidence for Dai’s case and the detention of other activists would serve this objective.
The U.S., the EU and other countries as well as many international and domestic human rights organizations have urged Vietnam to release Mr. Dai and Ms. Ha immediately and unconditionally, saying the two activists only exercise their rights of freedom of expression enshrined in Vietnam’s 2013 Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in which Vietnam is a state party.
In order to keep the country under a one-party regime, the Vietnamese communist government has used many controversial articles such as 79, 88 and 258 to silence local political dissidents, social activists and human rights defenders.
Around twenty activists have been imprisoned so far this year. Many others, including prominent blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, have been detained for months.
According to Human Rights Watch, Vietnam holds around 130 political prisoners while Amnesty International said the Southeast Asian nation is imprisoning around 90 prisoners of conscience.
Hanoi always rejects to holding any prisoners of conscience but only law violators.
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December 28, 2016
Vietnam Extends Pre-trial Detention for Prominent Human Rights Lawyer Nguyen Van Dai for 3rd Time
by Nhan Quyen • Le Thu Ha, Nguyen Van Dai
Human Rights Lawyer Nguyen Van Dai
By Defend the Defenders, December 28, 2016
Vietnam’s Supreme People’s Procuracy has extended the pre-trial detention for prominent human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai for third time since his arrest on December 16 last year.
In its notice sent to Ha Huy Son, a lawyer of Mr. Dai, the Supreme People’s Procuracy said the investigation period will be extended until April 17, 16 months since Dai’s detention in late 2015.
According to Vietnam’s Penal Code Procedure Law, Dai’s lawyers will be allowed to meet him after the police agency completes investigation to prepare for his defense, the Supreme People’s Procuracy said.
Mr. Dai, the founder of Vietnam Human Rights Center and the Brotherhood of Democracy, was arrested together with his assistant Ms. Le Thu Ha on allegation of conducting anti-state propaganda under Article 88 of the Penal Code.
The duo is facing imprisonment of between twelve and 20 years, according to the current Vietnamese law.
Mr. Dai has been held in incommunicado as he has not been allowed to meet with his lawyers and relatives while his wife was permitted to meet him once since late 2015.
In mid-December, security forces detained a number of activists, including Tran Duc Thach, Nguyen Bac Truyen and Truong Minh Duc and questioned them about their relationship with Mr. Dai. Some observers said that Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security, which is under great international pressure, has sought new evidence for Dai’s case and the detention of other activists would serve this objective.
The U.S., the EU and other countries as well as many international and domestic human rights organizations have urged Vietnam to release Mr. Dai and Ms. Ha immediately and unconditionally, saying the two activists only exercise their rights of freedom of expression enshrined in Vietnam’s 2013 Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in which Vietnam is a state party.
In order to keep the country under a one-party regime, the Vietnamese communist government has used many controversial articles such as 79, 88 and 258 to silence local political dissidents, social activists and human rights defenders.
Around twenty activists have been imprisoned so far this year. Many others, including prominent blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, have been detained for months.
According to Human Rights Watch, Vietnam holds around 130 political prisoners while Amnesty International said the Southeast Asian nation is imprisoning around 90 prisoners of conscience.
Hanoi always rejects to holding any prisoners of conscience but only law violators.