OSLO, 21 September 2006 (Reuters) – A Norwegian human rights body, which has four times anticipated the choice of the Nobel Peace Prize winner with its own award, chose a Vietnamese monk on Thursday to receive its annual prize. The Thorolf Rafto Foundation for Human Rights honored Thich …
Read More »Mr. Vo Van Ai, President of the Paris-based Vietnam Committee on Human Rights and Vice-President of the International Federation on Human Rights (FIDH) sent an Open Letter to Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung urging him to take the opportunity of the ASEM 6 Summit to announce radical measures to …
Read More »Hanoi, 30 Aug 2006 (dpa) – Newly freed Vietnamese internet dissident Pham Hong Son vowed hours after his release Wednesday that he would continue to call for free elections in communist-ruled Vietnam despite remaining under house arrest. “I will speak and exchange opinions freely and openly,” Son, 37, …
Read More »PARIS, 28 August 2006 – Vietnam’s Vice-Minister of Public Security has announced that 5,313 prisoners will be released on 2 September, Vietnam’s National Day, including two prisoners convicted of “national security” offences, one of “espionage” and one of “undermining the policy of national unity”. These prisoners reportedly include cyber-dissident Pham …
Read More »GENEVA, 20th June 2006 – As the new United Nations Human Rights Council begins its first session in Geneva this week, Vo Van Ai, President of the Paris-based Vietnam Committee on Human Rights and Vice-President of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), wrote to UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan, the …
Read More »PARIS, 17 May 2006 (IBIB) – Thanks to concerted international pressure for improvements in religious freedom in Vietnam, including as Resolutions in the European Parliament and US Congress, the US State Department’s designation of Vietnam as a “Country of Particular Concern” and repeated interventions by the United Nations, and following …
Read More »PARIS, 12 May 2006 (IBIB) – As State-sponsored Buddhist organisations celebrate the 2550th Anniversary of the Vesak (Birth of Buddha) in Vietnam today (15th day of the 4th Lunar month, i.e. 12th May 2006), the authorities are tightening controls on the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam. Security Police have …
Read More »PARIS, April 25, 2006 (IBIB) – The International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) strongly denounces the statement made by Ngo Yen Thi, Chairman of Vietnam’s Religious Board at a Press Conference in Hanoi on Monday 24th April. Asked by a reporter whether Vietnam was prepared to re-establish the legal status of …
Read More »Agence France Presse HANOI, April 21 2006 (AFP) – Rights activists have urged the European Union to press Vietnam for the release of several dissidents, as a top EU official arrived in Hanoi on Friday for talks with leaders of the communist country. Media rights watchdog Reporters without …
Read More »Agence France Presse HANOI, April 21 2006 (AFP) – A top EU diplomat said Friday she would discuss human rights and push for the release of jailed political and religious dissidents when she meets Vietnam’s communist leaders. The European commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, was due to …
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Quê Me Quê Me: Action for democracy in Vietnam & Vietnam Committee on Human Rights