{"id":44724,"date":"2021-01-06T13:38:48","date_gmt":"2021-01-06T13:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/queme.org\/?p=44724"},"modified":"2022-04-05T11:53:32","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T11:53:32","slug":"3-independent-journalists-jailed-for-up-to-15-years-in-vietnam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/queme.org\/en\/3-independent-journalists-jailed-for-up-to-15-years-in-vietnam\/","title":{"rendered":"Three independent journalists jailed for up to 15 years in Vietnam"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/queme.org\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2021-0105-afp-trial-phamchidung.jpg\" alt=\"From left to right: Nguy\u1ec5n T\u01b0\u1eddng Th\u1ee5y, L\u00ea H\u1eefu Minh Tu\u1ea5n and Ph\u1ea1m Ch\u00ed D\u0169ng at their trial in Ho Chi Minh City on 5 January 2021 (Photo AFP)\" class=\"wp-image-45003\" srcset=\"https:\/\/queme.org\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2021-0105-afp-trial-phamchidung.jpg 600w, https:\/\/queme.org\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2021-0105-afp-trial-phamchidung-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/queme.org\/app\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2021-0105-afp-trial-phamchidung-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>PARIS,\n6 January 2021 (VCHR) &#8211; Vietnam has begun the New Year by sentencing three\nindependent journalists to draconian prison terms at a trial in Ho Chi Minh\nCity\u2019s People\u2019s Court that lasted only a few hours. Ph\u1ea1m Ch\u00ed D\u0169ng is condemned to\n15 years in prison for <em>\u201cmaking, storing, spreading information, materials,\nitems for the purpose of opposing the State of Socialist Republic of Vietnam\u201d, <\/em>(Article\n117 of Vietnam\u2019s Criminal Code). This is the highest sentence ever handed down\nunder Article 117. Two of his colleagues, Nguy\u1ec5n T\u01b0\u1eddng Th\u1ee5y and L\u00ea H\u1eefu Minh Tu\u1ea5n\nwere sentenced to 11 years each under the same charges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These harsh sentences follow the entry into force\nof a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Vietnam (EVFTA) in\nAugust 2020. One of the most ambitious free trade deals ever concluded with a\ndeveloping country, EVFTA provides for the almost complete (99%) elimination of\ncustoms duties between the two blocks. Facing opposition within the European\nParliament (EP), the EU argued that EVFTA would provide leverage to improve the\nhuman rights situation in Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>\u201cBarely five months after this landmark agreement took effect, Vietnam has pronounced some of the heaviest prison sentences ever for \u201canti-state propaganda\u201d,<\/em><\/strong> said VCHR President V\u00f5 V\u0103n \u00c1i. <strong><em>\u201cPh\u1ea1m Ch\u00ed D\u0169ng was arbitrarily arrested simply for <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/KnzZQe3QDw0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"urging the EP to seek concrete human rights progress in Vietnam before ratifying EVFTA (opens in a new tab)\">urging the EP to seek concrete human rights progress in Vietnam before ratifying EVFTA<\/a>. Hanoi is taking revenge today by shamefully flouting international law and betraying its own promises which the Europeans had the naivety \u2013 or hypocrisy \u2013 to believe\u201d.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Video Message from Pham Chi Dung to European Parliament on EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)\" width=\"618\" height=\"348\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KnzZQe3QDw0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) issued the following statement on the sentencing of Ph\u1ea1m Ch\u00ed D\u0169ng, Nguy\u1ec5n T\u01b0\u1eddng Th\u1ee5y and L\u00ea H\u1eefu Minh Tu\u1ea5n :<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"236\" height=\"69\" src=\"https:\/\/queme.org\/app\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Observatory.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34782\" srcset=\"https:\/\/queme.org\/app\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Observatory.jpg 236w, https:\/\/queme.org\/app\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Observatory-150x44.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>URGENT APPEAL &#8211; THE OBSERVATORY <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>VNM 003 \/ 1119 \/ OBS 097.1<\/strong><br> Sentencing \/<br> Arbitrary detention \/<br> Judicial harassment<br> <strong>Vietnam<\/strong><br> January 5, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership\nof FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new\ninformation and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in\n<strong>Vietnam<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>New information:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Observatory has been informed by the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights\n(VCHR) about the sentencing of independent human rights journalists <strong>Pham Chi\nDung<\/strong>, <strong>Nguyen Tuong Thuy<\/strong>, and <strong>Le Huu Minh Tuan<\/strong>. Pham Chi Dung,\n55, is the founder of the Independent Journalist Association of Vietnam\n(IJAVN), a civil society organisation that promotes the freedom of the press\nand the right to freedom of expression in Vietnam. Nguyen Tuong Thuy, 69, and\nLe Huu Minh Tuan, 31, are IJAVN members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On January 5, 2021, the People\u2019s Court in Ho Chi Minh City found Pham Chi\nDung, Nguyen Tuong Thuy, and Le Huu Minh Tuan guilty of \u201cmaking, storing,\nspreading information, materials, items for the purpose of opposing the State\u201d\nunder Article 117 of the Criminal Code. Pham Chi Dung was sentenced to 15 years\nin prison and three years\u2019 house arrest. Nguyen Tuong Thuy and Le Huu Minh Tuan\nwere each sentenced to 11 years in prison and three years\u2019 house arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Observatory recalls that Pham Chi Dung has been<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" arbitrarily detained (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/queme.org\/en\/vietnam-arbitrary-detention-of-journalist-pham-chi-dung\/\" target=\"_blank\"> arbitrarily detained<\/a> since November 21, 2019, on charges of&nbsp; writing \u201canti-State articles\u201d and \u201ccooperating with foreign media to deliver distorted information\u201d. In particular, he had sent a video message to members of the European Parliament urging them to postpone ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) pending human rights progress in Vietnam. Shortly after his arrest, IJAVN\u2019s website (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.vietnamthoibao.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"www.vietnamthoibao.org (opens in a new tab)\">www.vietnamthoibao.org<\/a> ) was shut down by the authorities. In 2012, Pham Chi Dung had been detained during six months over the same accusations. He was also frequently harassed by the authorities and was banned from traveling abroad in 2014. Nguyen Tuong Thuy and Le Huu Minh Tuan were arrested on May 23 and June, 12, 2020, respectively, on charges under Article 117 of the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Observatory strongly condemns the sentencing and ongoing arbitrary\ndetention of Pham Chi Dung, Nguyen Tuong Thuy and Le Huu Minh Tuan, which seem\nto be only aimed at punishing them for the legitimate exercise of their right\nto freedom of expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Observatory calls on the Vietnamese authorities to quash the prison\nsentences of Pham Chi Dung,Nguyen Tuong Thuy, and Le Huu Minh Tuan, immediately\nand unconditionally release the three, and put an end to any acts of\nharassment, including at the judicial level, against them and all other human\nrights defenders in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Actions requested:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please write to the authorities of Vietnam asking them to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>i. Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical integrity and\npsychological well-being of Pham Chi Dung, Nguyen Tuong Thuy and Le Huu Minh\nTuan,and of all other human rights defenders in Vietnam;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ii. Repeal the guilty verdict and immediately and unconditionally release\nPham Chi Dung, Nguyen Tuong Thuy and Le Huu Minh Tuan as their detention is\narbitrary and merely aimed at punishing them for their human rights activities;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>iii. Put an end to any harassment, including at the judicial level, against\nPham Chi Dung, Nguyen Tuong Thuy and Le Huu Minh Tuan, and all other human\nrights defenders in Vietnam, and ensure in all circumstances that they are able\nto carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance or fear of\nreprisals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Addresses:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, President of Vietnam; Email: <a href=\"mailto:webmaster@president.gov.vn\">webmaster@president.gov.vn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam; Email: <a href=\"mailto:nguoiphatngonchinhphu@chinhphu.vn\">nguoiphatngonchinhphu@chinhphu.vn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam; Email: <a href=\"mailto:ttll.mfa@mofa.gov.vn\">ttll.mfa@mofa.gov.vn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;Mr. Le Thanh Long, Minister of Justice of Vietnam; Email: <a href=\"mailto:btp@moj.gov.vn\">btp@moj.gov.vn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;Mr. Mai Tien Dung, Minister, Office of the Government (OOG), Vietnam; Email: <a href=\"mailto:vpcp@chinhphu.vn\">vpcp@chinhphu.vn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; Email: <a href=\"mailto:info@vnmission-ge.gov.vn\">info@vnmission-ge.gov.vn<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;Embassy of Vietnam in Brussels, Belgium; Email: <a href=\"mailto:vnemb.brussels@skynet.be\">vnemb.brussels@skynet.be<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Vietnam in your\nrespective countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:center\">***<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Paris-Geneva, January 5, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal\nin your reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.protectdefenders.eu\/en\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">ProtectDefenders.eu<\/a>, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25cf&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nE-mail: <a href=\"mailto:Appeals@fidh-omct.org\">Appeals@fidh-omct.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25cf&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nTel FIDH: +33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u25cf&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\nTel OMCT: +41 (0) 22 809 49 39<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PARIS, 6 January 2021 (VCHR) &#8211; Vietnam has begun the New Year by sentencing three independent journalists to draconian prison terms at a trial in Ho Chi Minh City\u2019s People\u2019s Court that lasted only a few hours. Ph\u1ea1m Ch\u00ed D\u0169ng is condemned to 15 years in prison for \u201cmaking, storing, spreading information, materials, items for &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":434,"featured_media":45000,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[137,113,98,64],"tags":[634,343,774,1352,1351,295,294,960],"class_list":["post-44724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-latest-posts","category-news","category-press-release","category-vchr","tag-evfta","tag-freedom-of-expression","tag-hdr","tag-le-huu-minh-tuan","tag-nguyen-tuong-thuy","tag-observatory","tag-omct","tag-pham-chi-dung"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/queme.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/queme.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/queme.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queme.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/434"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queme.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44724"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/queme.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44724\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queme.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/queme.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queme.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/queme.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}