Vietnamese dissident said weak from hunger strike

Huffington PostCHRIS BRUMMITT
The Huffington Post | 22 July 2013

HANOI, Vietnam — One of Vietnam’s most prominent dissidents is on the 30th day of a hunger strike in protest against being held under solitary confinement, family members said Monday, casting fresh attention on Vietnam’s human rights record ahead of trip by the country’s president this week to the White House.

Nguyen Van Hai, also known as Dieu Cay, is serving a 12-year prison term for conducting “propaganda against the state” in relation to his blogging and citizen media activities. His case has been mentioned by President Barack Obama, whose administration is appealing for the release of political prisoners.

It is unclear whether human rights will be discussed in talks scheduled for Thursday between Obama and Vietnam’s President Truong Tan Sang. Administration officials have said in the past that closer ties between Vietnam, which shares U.S. concerns about China, would be difficult unless it release dissidents and loosens its grip on freedom of expression. Continue reading…