Rights group warns against return to prison for Vietnam dissident

 

Asia-Pacific News

Mar 14, 2011

Hanoi - Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned Monday that the possible return to prison of one of Vietnam's most famous dissidents could pose serious risks to his health.

Father Nguyen Van Ly, 65, was sentenced in 2007 to eight years in prison followed by five years house arrest for 'spreading propaganda against the Vietnamese state.'

The Catholic priest suffered several strokes in prison, and on March 15, 2010 he was released for a one-year medical parole.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of HRW, called for Vietnamese authorities to 'immediately and unconditionally release Ly and revoke all charges against him.'

'Father Ly should remain free and not be returned to prison when his medical parole ends,' he said. 'Returning Father Ly to prison for another five years would pose serious risks to his health.'

According to HRW, police have harassed and intimidated anyone trying to visit Ly.

In January, political officer at the US embassy, Christian Marchant, was reportedly roughed up by police when he tried to visit the Catholic priest at his parish.

The US government condemned the attack.

Ly has been imprisoned for more than 15 years since 1977 for his peaceful campaigning for religious freedom, democracy, and human rights.

He was among the founders of Bloc 8406, a group of dissidents and activists who issued a manifesto calling for multiparty democracy and freedom of expression and religion in 2006.

 

 

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