By Vu Quoc Ngu | Mar 21, 2015
The Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience (FVPoC) on Mar 17 held its first National Congress in Saigon, committing to promote human rights and democracy in the communist nation in the South Asia.
Over 40 former prisoners of conscience from all parts of the country gathered in Ky Dong Redemptory’s Church to attend the event. Many others couldn’t take part in due to their house arrest while security forces blocked a number of former political prisoners, not allowing them to came to the conference.
During the one-day meeting, the delegates reviewed the activities of the FVPoC since its establishment in February last year, worked on the acting plan for the 2015-2016 period, and elected the new seven-member steering committee, led by Co-President Dr. Nguyen Dan Que and Catholic priest Phan Van Loi. Master Pham Ba Hai, lawyer Nguyen Van Dai and pastor Nguyen Trung Ton were elected to be co-ordinators while Venerable Thich Khong Tanh will be chairman of the Advisory council. Dr. Pham Chi Dung, who is president of the Independent Journalist Association of Vietnam, will be the spokesman of the FVPoC for the 2015-2016 term.
Since the establishment, the FVPoC, the unsanctioned organization of people who were imprisoned by the communist government for peaceful expression of opinions or fighting for human rights, including the right of religious freedom and land right, has supported its members mentally and materially to overcome the harassments of authorities in their localities.
Members of the steering committee have travelled across the nation to meet with former prisoners of consciences after they were released, visited them when they met difficulties and encouraged them to continue to fight for multi-party democracy and promote human rights.
Representatives of the FVPoC have also met with many foreign diplomats in Vietnam and foreign delegations to report the Vietnamese violations of human rights, the on-going political suppression of the communist government, and urged them to use diplomatic measures to pressure Vietnam to release all prisoners of consciences.
The FVPoC has also closely coordinated with nearly 20 other unsanctioned civil organizations to voice about important issues in the country regarding democracy and human rights. A number of press releases and petitions initiated by the FVPoC and other civil bodies have warned the public about the government’s violations to human rights nationwide.
During the conference, the delegates worked on an open letter of the unsanctioned civil bodies which will be sent to the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU-132) slated in Hanoi on Mar 28-Apr 1 in a bid to call on Vietnam’s legislative body National Assembly to work for the nation but not for the ruling communist nation, and to promote human rights in the country.
The delegates also debated on the plan of setting up a National Committee for Action which consists of representatives of unsanctioned civil bodies to work on important matters of the country and find measures to solve the nation’s problems as well as deal with human rights violations. According to the draft, the to-be-established committee will organize online meeting regularly or meeting to respond to particular human rights violation case.
There is no exact number of the former prisoners of conscience in Vietnam, but the number may be thousands, and most of them are living in the country. According to the FVPoC, the communist government is still holding 102 prisoners of conscience.
After completing their sentences, prisoners of conscience continue to face harassment of the communist nation. Along of being under constant government surveillance and persecution, they face many difficulties in travelling and earning for living.
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…
March 21, 2015
Vietnam Former Prisoners of Conscience Holds National Congress, Pledging to Continue to Fight for Democracy, Human Rights
by Nhan Quyen • [Human Rights]
Since the establishment, the FVPoC, the unsanctioned organization of people who were imprisoned by the communist government for peaceful expression of opinions or fighting for human rights, including the right of religious freedom and land right, has supported its members mentally and materially to overcome the harassments of authorities in their localities.
Members of the steering committee have travelled across the nation to meet with former prisoners of consciences after they were released, visited them when they met difficulties and encouraged them to continue to fight for multi-party democracy and promote human rights.
By Vu Quoc Ngu | Mar 21, 2015
The Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience (FVPoC) on Mar 17 held its first National Congress in Saigon, committing to promote human rights and democracy in the communist nation in the South Asia.
Over 40 former prisoners of conscience from all parts of the country gathered in Ky Dong Redemptory’s Church to attend the event. Many others couldn’t take part in due to their house arrest while security forces blocked a number of former political prisoners, not allowing them to came to the conference.
During the one-day meeting, the delegates reviewed the activities of the FVPoC since its establishment in February last year, worked on the acting plan for the 2015-2016 period, and elected the new seven-member steering committee, led by Co-President Dr. Nguyen Dan Que and Catholic priest Phan Van Loi. Master Pham Ba Hai, lawyer Nguyen Van Dai and pastor Nguyen Trung Ton were elected to be co-ordinators while Venerable Thich Khong Tanh will be chairman of the Advisory council. Dr. Pham Chi Dung, who is president of the Independent Journalist Association of Vietnam, will be the spokesman of the FVPoC for the 2015-2016 term.
Since the establishment, the FVPoC, the unsanctioned organization of people who were imprisoned by the communist government for peaceful expression of opinions or fighting for human rights, including the right of religious freedom and land right, has supported its members mentally and materially to overcome the harassments of authorities in their localities.
Members of the steering committee have travelled across the nation to meet with former prisoners of consciences after they were released, visited them when they met difficulties and encouraged them to continue to fight for multi-party democracy and promote human rights.
Representatives of the FVPoC have also met with many foreign diplomats in Vietnam and foreign delegations to report the Vietnamese violations of human rights, the on-going political suppression of the communist government, and urged them to use diplomatic measures to pressure Vietnam to release all prisoners of consciences.
The FVPoC has also closely coordinated with nearly 20 other unsanctioned civil organizations to voice about important issues in the country regarding democracy and human rights. A number of press releases and petitions initiated by the FVPoC and other civil bodies have warned the public about the government’s violations to human rights nationwide.
During the conference, the delegates worked on an open letter of the unsanctioned civil bodies which will be sent to the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU-132) slated in Hanoi on Mar 28-Apr 1 in a bid to call on Vietnam’s legislative body National Assembly to work for the nation but not for the ruling communist nation, and to promote human rights in the country.
The delegates also debated on the plan of setting up a National Committee for Action which consists of representatives of unsanctioned civil bodies to work on important matters of the country and find measures to solve the nation’s problems as well as deal with human rights violations. According to the draft, the to-be-established committee will organize online meeting regularly or meeting to respond to particular human rights violation case.
There is no exact number of the former prisoners of conscience in Vietnam, but the number may be thousands, and most of them are living in the country. According to the FVPoC, the communist government is still holding 102 prisoners of conscience.
After completing their sentences, prisoners of conscience continue to face harassment of the communist nation. Along of being under constant government surveillance and persecution, they face many difficulties in travelling and earning for living.