The conviction of Father Ly for merely exercising his fundamental human rights is outrageous and appalling, but it also is regrettably predictable. Vietnam claims that they have put an end to human rights abuses, but now the whole world can see that their reforms were just for show. Vietnam’s so-called reforms are nothing more than smoke and mirrors. 02.04.2007 - Norsk vietnamesisk Senter

The Vietnamese Norwegian Center condemns the brutal and intensified crackdown on democracy activists, who exercise their fundamental rights peacefully, which is protected by international human rights law and the Vietnamese constitution. The heavy prison sentences imposed on Father Nguyen Van Ly (the man in dark blue shirt, sitting while the vietnamese agent Nguyen Minh Tan from PA24 held his mouth under the "court&quot.

"The conviction of Father Ly for merely exercising his fundamental human rights is outrageous and appalling, but it also is regrettably predictable. Vietnam claims that they have put an end to human rights abuses, but now the whole world can see that their reforms were just for show," U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R- NJ) said. "Vietnam’s so-called reforms are nothing more than smoke and mirrors. The sham trial that lead to the conviction of Father Ly and other dissidents today is further evidence that the regime in Hanoi continues to carry-out human rights abuses with impunity."

01 April 2007
Press release: the Vietnamese Norwegian Center

On friday, March 30th in the one party rulled Vietnam, dissident Catholic priest Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly was sentenced to eight years imprisonment after a setup court found him guilty of "extremely serious violations against national security” and “having distributed materials intended to undermine the government".

According to journalists who were allowed to follow the trial, the defendants were not represented by a lawyer, which is in breach of international standards for a fair trial. Several countries, including Norway, are engaged in human rights dialogues with the Vietnamese Government. For the past several years, Western diplomats have been urging Vietnam's government to promote "transparency and rule of law" as essential ingredients for fighting corruption and fostering smooth business transactions.

Four of Father Ly’s associates, who helped him produce a dissident publication called Tu do Ngon luan (Free Speech) were also sentenced. This setup court found them guilty of "propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam." Nguyen Phong, Nguyen Binh Thanh, Hoang Thi Anh Dao and Le Thi Hang received jail terms ranging from 18 months to six years. The four defendants acknowledged being members of the Progression Party of Vietnam, which was founded last year. Nguyen Phong, who received a six-year sentence, reportedly told the judge: "I will continue to fight for the values of freedom and democracy on behalf of the Vietnamese nation."

The Vietnamese Norwegian Center calls upon the Vietnamese government to:

* allow individuals to peacefully exercise their rights of the freedom of speech without fear or recrimination.

* immediately and unconditionally release all Vietnamese who are in prison or under house arrest for their peaceful religious or political beliefs.

* respect and act in accordance with the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights covenants that Vietnam has ratified.


Background

In the wake of the APEC-summit in Hanoi in November 2006, and after having been accepted as a member of WTO, the Vietnamese authorities have gradually intensified a crackdown on dissent by arresting and harassing dissidents. Those connected o Bloc 8406 have been targeted, along with people linked to pro-democracy political parties and publications that have emerged during the last 12 months.

Father Nguyen Van Ly is a founding member of Bloc 8406, which in April 2006 launched an on-line petition signed by 118 democracy activists calling for peaceful political change and respect for human rights in Vietnam. The petition quickly attracted more signatories and its launch marked the effective creation of an internet based pro-democracy movement. Ly, who has spent more than a decade in prison since 1983, was last freed from prison two years ago.

Source: The Time, Le Monde, UVSA, HRW, Rafto
Picture: AFP

Thank you for posting these news! I am really worried whey I read all the sad news about the dissidents in Vietnam. It seems like there has been a major setback in recent months. Is that right?

I would love to hear the analysis from people who follow the situation in Vietnam more closely!

Kevin

One Vietnamese friend talk to me on the Father Lee tial and about this pictures. He said that some security officers put them on the web to put polical authorities in difficulty.

In any case, thanks to NVSenter