English PEN: Take urgent action for writer Nguyen Huu Cau

English PEN
5 July 2013

Poet, songwriter, human rights defender and anti-corruption activist Nguyen Huu Cau has been detained in Vietnam since 1982 in relation to an ‘incriminating’ manuscript of songs and poems.

Following his most recent monthly visit to his father, an hour-long meeting at which security agents were present throughout, his son Tran Ngoc Bich reported that Nguyen Huu Cau’s health is deteriorating rapidly. He has now gone completely blind in his left eye, whilst the vision in his right eye is worsening. He is almost completely deaf and suffers from a serious heart condition, which is worsening because of the lack of adequate medical attention and deplorable prison conditions. There are grave concerns that Nguyen Huu Cau, who has already been separated from his family for more than three decades, may die in prison.

Please join us in calling for his immediate and unconditional release on humanitarian grounds. 

TAKE URGENT ACTION

Send a letter of appeal

• Expressing serious concern for the health of imprisoned writer and activist Nguyen Huu Cau and urging that he is given full access to all necessary medical care as a matter of urgency;
• Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of  Nguyen Huu Cau on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with Article 19 of the ICCPR to which Vietnam is signatory.

Appeals to

His Excellency Mr Vu Quang Minh
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
12-14 Victoria Road,
London
W8 5RD
Email: consular@vietnamembassy.org.uk

You may wish to write to the authorities using the form below. A sample letter is provided, but we would highly recommend personalising your appeal.

Send messages of support to Nguyen Huu Cau and his family

Sending messages of support directly to writers in prison has been shown to afford detainees better treatment in prison, as well as providing much-needed moral support to writers and their families. If you would be interested in sending a message of support to Nguyen Huu Cau and his family, please email us to request the relevant addresses.

Urgent appeal for imprisoned writer Nguyen Huu Cau

Your Excellency,

I am writing to you as a supporter of English PEN, the founding centre of the international association of writers, to express my grave concern for poet, songwriter, human rights defender and anti-corruption activist Nguyen Huu Cau.

According to PEN’s information, Nguyen Huu Cau was arrested by public security police on 9 October 1982 in relation to an ‘incriminating’ manuscript of songs and poems. He had reportedly noted allegations of rape and bribery committed by two high level officers on the back of the pages of the original manuscript.

Nguyen Huu Cau was accused of committing ‘destructive acts’ that were supposedly ‘damaging’ to the government’s image and on 23 May 1983 he was sentenced to death. His mother submitted an appeal on his behalf and two years later, on 24 May 1985, the Court of Appeals commuted his sentence to life imprisonment. The annotated manuscript was reportedly not used as evidence in the trial against him, in order to protect the two officers concerned.

In the many years since, Nguyen Huu Cau has reportedly been held in harsh solitary confinement. He has apparently now lost most of his vision and is almost completely deaf. He also suffers from a serious heart condition, which is worsening because of the lack of adequate medical attention and the deplorable prison conditions. Concerns for his well-being are acute.

I believe that Nguyen Huu Cau is detained in violation of his right to free expression, and call for his immediate and unconditional release on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Vietnam is a signatory. I also strongly urge the Vietnamese authorities to ensure that he is given full access to all necessary medical care as a matter of utmost urgency.

I would welcome your comments on my appeal.

Yours sincerely

* Click here to send messages of support to Nguyen Huu Cau and his family.

Source: English PEN

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