Amnesty
International Urges Sending Appeals to Free Lawyer Bui Thi Kim Thanh
24 November 2006
URGENT ACTION
Viet Nam: Fear for
safety/torture/ill-treatment/arbitrary detention: Bui Thi Kim Thanh (f)
Lawyer Bui Thi Kim Thanh is being held against her will at a mental hospital, in
very poor conditions, where she is reportedly being forced to have injections of
unknown drugs. There is apparently no medical basis for this, and it is believed
to be an attempt by the authorities to punish her for her work on behalf of an
unauthorised pro-democracy organisation.
Bui Thi Kim Thanh is a lawyer for the Democratic Party of Vietnam (DPV) (XXI),
and also worked free of charge defending low-income families in her community
who have had property confiscated by the authorities and who are seeking
redress. The DPV (XXI) is an unauthorized organization established by prominent
dissident Hoang Minh Chinh in June 2006, which calls for multi-party democracy
and human rights.
Police detained Bui Thi Kim Thanh at her home in Ho Chi Minh City in the early
hours of 2 November, and took her to a nearby hospital, where they tried to have
her committed. However, two psychiatric doctors reportedly assessed her and
concluded that she was not suffering from mental illness. After this the police
took her to Bien Hoa Mental Hospital, where she was admitted and remains
confined to a room in area 4 of the hospital. She has been described as being
unable to talk as an apparent consequence of the injections.
The authorities reportedly offered her release on condition that she did not
speak about her treatment. Since she refused she is no longer allowed to receive
any visits. Until this she had been allowed visits from her family.
Bui Thi Kim Thanh is not known to have been charged with any offence.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
During 2006 dissidents and political activists have increasingly attempted to
exercise their right to freedom of expression, forming a small number of
unauthorized political parties, attempting to publish bulletins about freedom of
expression, and using the internet and online petitions to advocate democracy
and human rights. The authorities have harassed and interrogated many of those
involved.
Viet Nam hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit meetings
between 12 and 19 November, which were attended by finance ministers and heads
of state. In the run-up to the summit, and during it, several dissidents,
including former prisoners of conscience, in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City were
subjected to harassment, detention for interrogation, physical threats,
surveillance and restrictions on movement.
Before now political or religious dissidents have reportedly been confined to
Bien Hoa Mental Hospital for non-medical reasons, and suffered ill-treatment.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, French or your own
language:
- expressing concern that Bui Thi Kim Thanh has been detained against her will
at a mental institution and that she has been injected with unknown medication
against her will, all without apparent medical need;
- expressing concern that her health is in danger, and that she is at risk of
torture and ill-treatment;
- calling on the authorities to release Bui Thi Kim Thanh from Bien Hoa Mental
Hospital immediately and unconditionally;
- urging the authorities to immediately investigate the arbitrary detention of
Bui Thi Kim Thanh, and to bring those responsible to justice;
- pointing out that the harassment of Bui Thi Kim Thanh for carrying out her
peaceful political activities and professional work is a violation of her rights
to freedom of expression and association, and calling on the authorities to
ensure that it is ended immediately.
APPEALS TO:
Prime Minister
Nguyen Tan Dung
Office of the Prime Minister
Hoang Hoa Tham
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Fax: + 844 823 1872 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Email: bambientap@mofa.gov.vn (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister
Minister of Public Security
Le Hong Anh
Ministry of Public Security
44 Yet Kieu Street
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Fax: + 844 825 2733
Salutation: Dear Minister
Minister of Health
Tran Thi Trung Chien (f)
Ministry of Health
138A Giang Vo Street
Ban Dinh District
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Fax: + 844 826 5303
Salutation: Dear Minister
COPIES TO:
diplomatic representatives of the
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International
Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 5 January 2007.