According to the Annual Report of the U.S. State Department, Vietnam’s human rights had been worsened in 2013. The communist government in Hanoi continued to suppress and harass human rights activists as well as imprisoned other political dissidents.
During the week (March 17-23), the Vietnamese government continued to apply anti-humanity moves, including giving a 15-month imprisonment for blogger Pham Viet Dao and putting in jail two Hmong followers of Duong Van Minh sect with total 36 months. The release of two political prisoners Dinh Dang Dinh and Nguyen Huu Cau are two other interesting news this week.
**********Mar 19, 2014**********
Blogger Pham Viet Dao gets 15-month imprisonment
The People’s Court in Hanoi on March 13 sentenced writer, blogger Pham Viet Dao for 15 months in jail for “abusing democracy freedom to harm the interests of the state” according to Article 258 of the Criminal Code.
Mr. Dao was arrested on June 13, 2013 for posting his articles criticizing the government on his blog.
See more:
VNHRDs: Pham Viet Dao
U.S. State Department: 2013 Annual Report on Vietnam’s Human Rights Record
On March 19, the U.S. Department of State released the Annual Report on Vietnam’s Human Rights Record for 2013. The report showed that the Vietnamese government used violence, harassment and arbitrarily arrested political dissidents, halted Internet freedom, freedom of expression and press of citizens. Human trafficking, violent and forced child labor were regular issues for the country.
Human Rights Coffee Meeting for second time with participation of foreign diplomats on freedom of traveling
In morning on March 20, around 30 people attended the meeting in Joma Bakery Coffee in Hanoi’s center to discuss on travelling freedom of Vietnamese citizens. Along with Vietnamese who were illegally banned by police to go abroad, the meeting attracted a number of foreign diplomats from the EU, Australia, Germany and Sweden.
After leaving the meeting, blogger Trinh Anh Tuan were beaten by three secret agents for unknown reason.
See the full text
**********Mar 20, 2014**********
Human rights Coffee II: Diplomats participate to the seminar of freedom of movement
At 9 Am, a meeting of bloggers and diplomats occurred at Joma Bakery Coffee with 30 participants. Most of them are persons used to be barred from going abroad.
After the seminar, blogger Trinh Anh Tuan was attacked on the road side when he was returning home by group of strangers.
See more:
Hanoi: Report on the Network of Vietnamese Bloggers’ Discussion of the Rights to Freedom of Movement
Two Hmong people imprisoned for practicing civilized Duong Van Minh sect
On March 20, the People’s Court in Ham Yen district in Tuyen Quang province sentenced Mr. Ly Van Dinh and Mr. Duong Van Tu with 21 months and 15 months in jail, respectively, for violating Article 258 of the Criminal Code. Mr. Dinh, 51, was arrested on Nov 19, 2013 and Mr. Tu, 47, was arrested on Oct 10, 2013 for calling Hmong fellows to give up old style of living which is very unhygienic.
Over 1,000 of Hmong gathered outside of the court-room to demand for unconditional release of the arrested couple. During the past few years, eight Hmong have been arrested under charge of Article 258. On March 14 this year, Hoang Van Sang was jailed for 18 months.
Refer to:
Ly Van Dinh
Duong Van Tu
**********Mar 21, 2014**********
Bloody suppression against Hoa Hao Buddhist sect
In evening March 31, human rights activists received a bad news that police forces were harassing Hoa Hao Buddhist followers in a private house of Nguyen Van Vinh in An Giang province when Mr. Vinh and his fellows were preparing for the 67th anniversary of late leader Huynh Phu So, who was killed by communists. After beating Hoa Hao followers, the policemen robbed individual possessions, equipment and other thing for the event worth nearly VND200 million.
Earlier, local authorities sent a delegation of over 20 members to Mr. Vinh’s house to persuade them not to organize the anniversary. However, the proposal was rejected as Mr. Vinh said he will self-immolate if the local government stop them.
See more:
CUỘC ĐÀN ÁP NHẮM VÀO CÁC TÍN ĐỒ PHẬT GIÁO HÒA HẢO
Công an đàn áp tín đồ Phật Giáo Hòa Hảo
Công an thẳng tay đàn áp, PGHH càng quyết tâm
Prisoner of conscience Dinh Dang Dinh was freed when he is at the final stage of stomach cancer
On March 21, a delegation of Dak Nong province came to Mr. Dinh Dang Dinh’s private house to deliver an amnesty signed by President Truong Tan Sang on March 10. However, Mr. Dinh affirmed that he is innocent and the amnesty has no value for him.
The former chemical teacher thanked for the concerns of Vietnamese. However, Vietnamese should focus on fighting against the communists’ dictatorship since he cannot live longer.
See more:
VNHRDs: Dinh Dang Dinh
Nguyen Huu Cau released after 20 years in prison
Nguyen Huu Cau, who spent the last 32 years in prison, was released on March 21. However, he was hospitalized immediately to treat a number of diseases.
Mr. Cau was a captain of the Saigon regime’s army. After the country’s reunification in 1975, he was forced to spend five years in re-education camp. He was released in 1980 but was arrested two years later for composing anti-government music as well as denouncing local cadres for corruption and rape. He was sentenced with death penalty but later was reduced to life imprisonment. During his 32 years in prison, the seriously-ill Cau never confessed his allegation which can help him to go out earlier.
Refer to:
VNHRDs: Nguyen Huu Cau
**********Mar 23, 2014**********
Hanoi police attacks Thai Ha Redemptory parish
In evening of March 22, after praying ceremony for activists Bui Thi Minh Hang, Nguyen Thuy Quynh and Nguyen Van Minh in Hanoi-based Thai Ha Redemptory’s parish, numerous local policemen surged into the parish, trying to arrest Ms. Hang’s daughter Bui Ngoc Anh and son Bui Trung.
The police wanted to arrest the two individuals who planned to conduct a protest in Bo Ho, the historic lake in Hanoi’s center in next Sunday’s morning.
However, the police forces were forced to withdraw after facing strong protest from the parish’s leadership.
Hanoi police beat activists calling for unconditional release of Bui Thi Minh Hang
In morning of March 23, a number of activists tried to gather in Hanoi’s center to make a public gathering to call on Vietnam’s government to unconditionally free Bui Thi Minh Hang, who was illegally arrested by Dong Thap province’s police and is facing fabricated accusation of the local authorities.
Several of activists were beaten by plain clothed policemen and were later detained until late afternoon. Especially, female activist Tran Thi Nga was beaten, insulted and sexually abused by policemen in the police station in Quang Trung ward in Dong Da district.
Refer to:
VRNs: Công an Hà Nội tấn công khủng bố Nhà thờ Thái Hà nửa đêm
Công an quận Hoàn Kiếm bắt chị Quỳnh Anh và cháu bé mới 7 tháng tuổi!
Summarized by Chau Van Thi.
Translation by [rollinglinks]Vu Quoc Ngu.[/rollinglinks]
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…
April 2, 2014
Mar 17-Mar 23 Defenders’ Weekly: one dissident gets conviction, other two are released
by Nhan Quyen • [Human Rights], DEFENDER’S WEEKLY
During the week (March 17-23), the Vietnamese government continued to apply anti-humanity moves, including giving a 15-month imprisonment for blogger Pham Viet Dao and putting in jail two Hmong followers of Duong Van Minh sect with total 36 months. The release of two political prisoners Dinh Dang Dinh and Nguyen Huu Cau are two other interesting news this week.
**********Mar 19, 2014**********
Blogger Pham Viet Dao gets 15-month imprisonment
The People’s Court in Hanoi on March 13 sentenced writer, blogger Pham Viet Dao for 15 months in jail for “abusing democracy freedom to harm the interests of the state” according to Article 258 of the Criminal Code.
Mr. Dao was arrested on June 13, 2013 for posting his articles criticizing the government on his blog.
See more:
VNHRDs: Pham Viet Dao
U.S. State Department: 2013 Annual Report on Vietnam’s Human Rights Record
On March 19, the U.S. Department of State released the Annual Report on Vietnam’s Human Rights Record for 2013. The report showed that the Vietnamese government used violence, harassment and arbitrarily arrested political dissidents, halted Internet freedom, freedom of expression and press of citizens. Human trafficking, violent and forced child labor were regular issues for the country.
Human Rights Coffee Meeting for second time with participation of foreign diplomats on freedom of traveling
In morning on March 20, around 30 people attended the meeting in Joma Bakery Coffee in Hanoi’s center to discuss on travelling freedom of Vietnamese citizens. Along with Vietnamese who were illegally banned by police to go abroad, the meeting attracted a number of foreign diplomats from the EU, Australia, Germany and Sweden.
After leaving the meeting, blogger Trinh Anh Tuan were beaten by three secret agents for unknown reason.
See the full text
**********Mar 20, 2014**********
Human rights Coffee II: Diplomats participate to the seminar of freedom of movement
At 9 Am, a meeting of bloggers and diplomats occurred at Joma Bakery Coffee with 30 participants. Most of them are persons used to be barred from going abroad.
After the seminar, blogger Trinh Anh Tuan was attacked on the road side when he was returning home by group of strangers.
See more:
Hanoi: Report on the Network of Vietnamese Bloggers’ Discussion of the Rights to Freedom of Movement
Two Hmong people imprisoned for practicing civilized Duong Van Minh sect
On March 20, the People’s Court in Ham Yen district in Tuyen Quang province sentenced Mr. Ly Van Dinh and Mr. Duong Van Tu with 21 months and 15 months in jail, respectively, for violating Article 258 of the Criminal Code. Mr. Dinh, 51, was arrested on Nov 19, 2013 and Mr. Tu, 47, was arrested on Oct 10, 2013 for calling Hmong fellows to give up old style of living which is very unhygienic.
Over 1,000 of Hmong gathered outside of the court-room to demand for unconditional release of the arrested couple. During the past few years, eight Hmong have been arrested under charge of Article 258. On March 14 this year, Hoang Van Sang was jailed for 18 months.
Refer to:
Ly Van Dinh
Duong Van Tu
**********Mar 21, 2014**********
Bloody suppression against Hoa Hao Buddhist sect
In evening March 31, human rights activists received a bad news that police forces were harassing Hoa Hao Buddhist followers in a private house of Nguyen Van Vinh in An Giang province when Mr. Vinh and his fellows were preparing for the 67th anniversary of late leader Huynh Phu So, who was killed by communists. After beating Hoa Hao followers, the policemen robbed individual possessions, equipment and other thing for the event worth nearly VND200 million.
Earlier, local authorities sent a delegation of over 20 members to Mr. Vinh’s house to persuade them not to organize the anniversary. However, the proposal was rejected as Mr. Vinh said he will self-immolate if the local government stop them.
See more:
CUỘC ĐÀN ÁP NHẮM VÀO CÁC TÍN ĐỒ PHẬT GIÁO HÒA HẢO
Công an đàn áp tín đồ Phật Giáo Hòa Hảo
Công an thẳng tay đàn áp, PGHH càng quyết tâm
Prisoner of conscience Dinh Dang Dinh was freed when he is at the final stage of stomach cancer
On March 21, a delegation of Dak Nong province came to Mr. Dinh Dang Dinh’s private house to deliver an amnesty signed by President Truong Tan Sang on March 10. However, Mr. Dinh affirmed that he is innocent and the amnesty has no value for him.
The former chemical teacher thanked for the concerns of Vietnamese. However, Vietnamese should focus on fighting against the communists’ dictatorship since he cannot live longer.
See more:
VNHRDs: Dinh Dang Dinh
Nguyen Huu Cau released after 20 years in prison
Nguyen Huu Cau, who spent the last 32 years in prison, was released on March 21. However, he was hospitalized immediately to treat a number of diseases.
Mr. Cau was a captain of the Saigon regime’s army. After the country’s reunification in 1975, he was forced to spend five years in re-education camp. He was released in 1980 but was arrested two years later for composing anti-government music as well as denouncing local cadres for corruption and rape. He was sentenced with death penalty but later was reduced to life imprisonment. During his 32 years in prison, the seriously-ill Cau never confessed his allegation which can help him to go out earlier.
Refer to:
VNHRDs: Nguyen Huu Cau
**********Mar 23, 2014**********
Hanoi police attacks Thai Ha Redemptory parish
In evening of March 22, after praying ceremony for activists Bui Thi Minh Hang, Nguyen Thuy Quynh and Nguyen Van Minh in Hanoi-based Thai Ha Redemptory’s parish, numerous local policemen surged into the parish, trying to arrest Ms. Hang’s daughter Bui Ngoc Anh and son Bui Trung.
The police wanted to arrest the two individuals who planned to conduct a protest in Bo Ho, the historic lake in Hanoi’s center in next Sunday’s morning.
However, the police forces were forced to withdraw after facing strong protest from the parish’s leadership.
Hanoi police beat activists calling for unconditional release of Bui Thi Minh Hang
In morning of March 23, a number of activists tried to gather in Hanoi’s center to make a public gathering to call on Vietnam’s government to unconditionally free Bui Thi Minh Hang, who was illegally arrested by Dong Thap province’s police and is facing fabricated accusation of the local authorities.
Several of activists were beaten by plain clothed policemen and were later detained until late afternoon. Especially, female activist Tran Thi Nga was beaten, insulted and sexually abused by policemen in the police station in Quang Trung ward in Dong Da district.
Refer to:
VRNs: Công an Hà Nội tấn công khủng bố Nhà thờ Thái Hà nửa đêm
Công an quận Hoàn Kiếm bắt chị Quỳnh Anh và cháu bé mới 7 tháng tuổi!
Summarized by Chau Van Thi.
Translation by [rollinglinks]Vu Quoc Ngu.[/rollinglinks]