ASA 41/008/2004 - Update to Web Action WA 12/03 (ASA 41/038/2003)

Amnesty International was delighted to learn of the early release of dissident Le Chi Quang on 12 June. Le Chi Quang was sentenced to four years' imprisonment in November 2002 for "carrying out propaganda against the State". According to the official charge sheet the police "caught Le Chi Quang red-handed when he was on the Internet...sending e-mails abroad." He is one of several dissidents arrested and imprisoned because they used the Internet to distribute material critical of the government and to communicate with other dissidents and Vietnamese groups overseas.

Le Chi Quang suffers from a chronic kidney condition and his health deteriorated while in prison. Amnesty International hopes he can now have the medical treatment he needs.

Amnesty International has actively campaigned for his release and thanks all those who have taken part in this campaign.