Quê Me Quê Me: Action for democracy in Vietnam & Vietnam Committee on Human Rights

Ho Chi Minh City Police City prohibit UBCV monks from receiving foreigners until APEC leaders leave Vietnam – Suspected of wanting to meet US President George W. Bush, Buddhist Nun Thich Nu Dam Thoa is arrested in Hanoi

PARIS, 19 November 2006 (IBIB) – The International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) has received urgent information from Venerable Thich Vien Dinh, Vice-President and Secretary General of “Vien Hoa Dao”, the Executive Institute of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, and Superior monk of the Giac Hoa Pagoda, one of …

APEC meeting in Hanoi, 12-19 November 2006 : Just Free Trade, no Free Speech : Hanoi dissidents are “off-limits” to foreigners during APEC meeting

PARIS, 15 November 2006 – As thousands of participants meet to discuss free trade and open markets at the APEC meeting in Hanoi, Security Police have received strict orders to prevent any free discussion between dissidents and foreign diplomats or media visiting the Vietnamese capital. Over the past week, Security …

“Sacrificing principles for profits” : Vo Van Ai regrets US State Department’s decision to withdraw Vietnam from list of Countries of Particular Concern

PARIS, 14 November 2006 (IBIB) – Mr. Vo Van Ai, Director of the International Buddhist Information Bureau and International Spokesman of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) expressed his deep regret at the US State Department’s decision to withdraw Vietnam from the blacklist of “Countries of Particular Concern” …

Open Letter to Heads of State at the APEC Summit in Hanoi, 17-19 November 2006 : “Sustainable development requires a free press, free trade unions and independent NGOs” : World leaders at APEC Summit must press Vietnam to initiate a process of political reform

Mr. Vo Van Ai, President of the Paris-based Quê Me : Vietnam Committee on Human Rights has sent an Open Letter to the Heads of State of 21 Member Economies meeting in Hanoi for the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit from 17-19 November 2006. The members are Australia ; Brunei Darussalam ; …

Vo Van Ai receives 2006 Rafto Prize in Bergen, Norway on behalf of Buddhist dissident Venerable Thich Quang Do

PARIS, 6 November 2006 (BIIB) – The Rafto Foundation in Bergen, Norway, awarded the 20th 2006 Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize to Venerable Thich Quang Do, Deputy leader of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) “for his personal courage and perseverance through three decades of peaceful opposition against …

IBIB : Vo Van Ai receives 2006 Rafto Prize on behalf of Thich Quang Do