PLEASE HELP

Human rights lawyers Nguyen Van Dai, aged 40, and Le Thi Cong Nhan, aged 30, were jailed in May 2007 for "conducting propaganda against the State." Amnesty International considers them prisoners of conscience and is calling for their immediate and unconditional release.

Le Thi Cong Nhan and Nguyen Van Dai were arrested on 6 March 2007 by Ha Noi Investigation and Security Police and tried by Ha Noi People’s Court on 11 May 2007. Nguyen Van Dai was sentenced to five years’ and Le Thi Cong Nhan to four years’ imprisonment, under Article 88 of the Penal Code, for “conducting propaganda against the State”. Their sentences were reduced by one year each on appeal on 27 November 2007, although their additional sentences of house arrest on release were unchanged: four years for Nguyen Van Dai and three for Le Thi Cong Nhan.

Le Thi Cong Nhan and Nguyen Van Dai are well known in dissident circles in Viet Nam as outspoken human rights lawyers. Nguyen Van Dai provided legal advice to dissidents and represented some in court, in particular imprisoned Protestants claiming persecution by the state. They were interviewed by US-based broadcasters Voice of America and Radio Free Asia: there and elsewhere they called for respect for human rights in Viet Nam.

In 2006 Nguyen Van Dai founded the dissident Committee for Human Rights in Viet Nam, which documents human rights violations, and was also one of the original signatories to the Bloc 8406 online petition Manifesto 2006 on Freedom and Democracy for Viet Nam, launched on 8 April 2006.

Le Thi Cong Nhan, who was a member of the Committee for Human Rights in Viet Nam and a supporter of Bloc 8406, was also the spokeswoman for the Viet Nam Progression Party (VNPP), one of several pro-democracy political parties and groups formed in 2006 without official approval, which called for democracy and freedom of expression and association, and for human rights to be respected.

ACT NOW

1. Write to the Prime Minister of Viet Nam:

• calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Le Thi Cong Nhan and Nguyen Van Dai;
• calling on him to ensure that while detained, they are allowed regular family visits, and receive appropriate medical care.

Nguyen Tan Dung
Office of the Prime Minister
Hoang Hoa Tham
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

Fax: + 844 3823 1872 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Salutation: Dear Prime Minister

2. Write a letter of support to Le Thi Cong Nhan and Nguyen Van Dai:

Greetings from [name of town].
You are in our thoughts and hopes for the future.

Nguyen Van Dai
Prison camp K1
Xa Ba Sao
huyen Kim Bang
thi xa Phu Ly
tinh Ha Nam
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

 

Le Thi Cong Nhan
Prison camp 5
phan trai 4
Yen Dinh
Thanh Hoa
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

 

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