Press Release

141 International Human Rights Leagues gathered in Lisbon condemn crack-down on human rights defenders in Vietnam

  LISBON, 24 April 2007 (VCHR) – Members of 141 leagues from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe, meeting in Lisbon, Portugal from 22-24 April 2007 for the 36th Congress of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) adopted two resolutions condemning violations of human rights in Vietnam. In an …

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Prominent International Organizations issue Mission Report on Human Rights Defenders in Vietnam

PARIS, 23 April 2007 (VCHR) – As high-level American and Vietnamese officials prepare to meet in Washington D.C. for the U.S.-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue tomorrow (24 April 2007), the Paris-based International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the Geneva-based World Organization against Torture (OMCT), released a groundbreaking report today on …

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US State Department Delegation visits Thich Quang Do in Saigon

PARIS, 9 April 2007 (IBIB) – A delegation from the US State Department, including Mr Eric G. John, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, Mr Seth D. Winnick, U.S. Consul General and members of staff paid a visit to prominent dissident Venerable Thich Quang Do, …

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The Trial of Father Nguyen Van Ly : Role and Responsibility of the Democratic Community

PARIS, 4 April 2007 (Vietnam Committee on Human Rights) – The trial of Roman Catholic priest Father Nguyen Van Ly and his colleagues, condemned to prison sentences of up to 8 years for “conducting propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” (1) is a culmination of the total failure of Western …

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Vietnam repeals Decree 31/CP on “Administrative Probation” but continues arbitrary detention of dissidents under Ordinance 44

GENEVA, 30 March 2007 (Vietnam Committee on Human Rights) – In a move praised by Western diplomats as a step towards the rule of law, Vietnam this week announced the abolition of Decree 31/CP on “Administrative Probation”, a measure routinely invoked to detain dissidents and government critics without trial. However, …

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Vietnam pursues crack-down on religious and political dissent : UBCV Buddhists Le Cong Cau, Thich Chi Thang and Thich Thien Minh face arrest

PARIS, 19 March 2007 (IBIB) – As Vietnam pursues its crack-down on pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders, it is stepping up repression against the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV). l UBCV leaders in Hue sent an urgent appeal today to the International Buddhist Information Bureau reporting that 30 …

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Buddhist leader Thich Quang Do speaks out on the arrest of Rafto Foundation representative Therese Jebsen in Saigon

Therese Jebsen(Photo IBIB & Rafto Foundation) On 15th March 2007 at 9.00am, Therese Jebsen of the Rafto Foundation came to the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery in Saigon to meet Venerable Thich Quang Do and hand him the Award Certificate of the 2006 Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize for Human Rights Defenders. …

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Therese Jebsen of Rafto Foundation is arrested whilst visiting Thich Quang Do in Saigon

Therese Jebsen(Photo Rafto Foundation) PARIS, 15 March 2007 (IBIB) – At 9.00 (Vietnam time) this morning, Thursday 15th March, Ms Therese Jebsen of the Norwegian Rafto Foundation was arrested as she came to visit Venerable Thich Quang Do, Deputy leader of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) at the …

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Vietnam crackdown on pro-democracy activists : Lawyers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan arrested in Hanoi

PARIS, 6th March 2007 (Vietnam Committee) – The Vietnam Committee on Human Rights is informed that Security forces raided the home of Nguyen Van Dai, a Hanoi-based lawyer and pro-democracy activist this morning and placed him under arrest. His current whereabouts is not yet confirmed, but Hanoi sources believe he …

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Statement by Vo Van Ai, UBCV International Spokesman, on the visit of Thich Nhat Hanh and the International Delegation of Plum Village to Vietnam

PARIS, 20 February 2007 (IBIB) – I feel shocked that Thich Nhat Hanh and over a hundred members of the International Delegation of Plum Village are allowed to travel freely to Vietnam, organize public events and preach openly throughout the country, whilst at the same time, leaders of the Unified …

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