PHR CAMPAIGNS

PHR Action Center

Ask the Vietnamese Government to Cease Persecution of Dr. Son and Other Former Political Prisoners

Vietnamese physician and democracy advocate Dr. Pham Hong Son was released from prison on August 30, 2006. Dr. Son had served more than three years of his five-year sentence for translating and circulating on the internet a document titled "What is Democracy?" Since his release, the Vietnamese government has put Dr. Son under probation for three years; surrounded his family's home has with security forces; erected a barrier in front of their house; and required Dr. Son to seek permission before leaving his neighborhood. Call upon the government of Vietnam to cease persecution of Dr. Son, Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, and other former prisoners of conscience, to release current prisoners, and to comply with its human rights obligations under the Vietnamese Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Tell me more

Send this message to:

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai

Subject:

Dear Prime Minsiter,

(Edit Letter Below)

I am writing to respectfully request your immediate intervention with respect to the situation of Dr. Pham Hong Son. A physician who worked as a pharmacist, Dr. Son was released today from prison after serving over three years of a five-year sentence on charges of espionage in a trial that failed to meet basic standards of due process. I welcome Dr. Son's release, but am disappointed to see that he has been put on probation, with his home guarded and travel restricted. I urge you to give Dr. Son a full pardon, and ensure that surveillance and restrictions against him cease immediately.

Dr. Son is on probation for three years serving "local cooperation," his travel is restricted, and his home is surrounded by security forces. Dr. Son's conviction and imprisonment were on the grounds of peacefully translating and circulating via internet a publication on democracy. Freedom of expression is protected under the Vietnamese Constitution as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Vietnam is a party to the ICCPR and has a legal obligation to adhere to its tenets.

I respectfully call on you to intervene on Dr. Son's behalf and curtail his "probationary" period. Vietnamese authorities should adhere to international law and ensure that Dr. Son and other political dissidents are allowed to voice their opinions without being subjected to unwarranted harassment.

I will look forward to receiving your response and to hearing about Dr. Son's release. Thank you for your attention to this serious matter.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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