Amnesty International Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sharon Singh, ssingh@aiusa.org,
202-675-8579
(
Nguyen Hoang Hai, imprisoned since 2008,
could be sentenced to an additional 20 years' imprisonment at his trial on
April 17. The blogger, also known as Dieu Cay
("the peasant’s pipe"), completed a two-and-a-half year prison
sentence for tax fraud in October 2010. Yet instead of releasing him,
Vietnamese authorities continue to detain him on charges of "conducting
propaganda" against the state.
"The persecution of Nguyen Hoang Hai
is blatant and unjust," said Donna Guest, deputy director of Amnesty
International's Asia-Pacific program. "He is detained and faces trial
solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression. The
Vietnamese authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Nguyen
Hoang Hai and drop all charges against him."
Nguyen Hoang Hai, who co-founded the
independent Free Vietnamese Journalists' Club, has written articles critical of
Nguyen Hoang Hai's family have
repeatedly been denied prison visits. His lawyer saw him for the first time in
March 2012, and said his client was ill and had lost a lot of weight.
"Until his release, Nguyen Hoang Hai
must be given the medical attention he requires, and be granted regular access
to his family and lawyer," said Guest.
Two other well-known bloggers and members of the Free Vietnamese
Journalists’ Club may be tried at the same time as Nguyen Hoang Hai. Phan Thanh
Hai, known as AnhBaSG, and
Ta Phong Tan, whose blog is called "Justice and
Truth," have been detained since October 2010 and September 2011,
respectively.
"The Vietnamese authorities must respect and protect freedom
of expression, association and assembly, and stop harassing those who promote
and defend human rights," said Guest.
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots
activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and
volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide.
The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the
public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and
dignity are denied.
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Alex Edwards
Media Relations
Amnesty International
aedwards@aiusa.org
202.675.8761