VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK

Mạng Lưới Nhân Quyền Việt Nam

8971 Colchester Ave, Westminster, CA 92683

Tel.: (714) 657-9488

Email: vnhrnet@vietnamhumanrights.net

 

 

 

VNHRN concluded its 10^th General Congress and announced winners of the 2011 Vietnam Human Rights Award

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

October 23, 2011

 

The Vietnam Human Rights Network (VHRN) held its 10^th General Congress in Little Saigon, California, on two days, October 21-22, 2011, with the attendance of its members from many areas and countries around the world.

The event started with a reception on the evening of October 21, 2011 at  the Nguoi Viet Daily News conference room with the participation of over 100 guests, including compatriots and representatives of American elected officials in Southern California. The keynote speaker, Judge Phan Quang Tue from San Francisco, delivered a speech on the human rights condition in Vietnam based on actual facts and current regulations.

The special moment at the reception was the announcement of the names of the two winners of 2011 Vietnam Human Rights Award: Doctor of Law Cu Huy Ha Vu and Ms. Do Thi Minh Hanh, who had been chosen from a list of 10 candidates. Both are currently being imprisoned by the Vietnamese communists.

 

Dr. Cu Huy Ha Vu, 53 years old, an active defender of civil and political rights, has been known for his courage to file lawsuits against Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung for his controversial Chinese-built bauxite mining project in the Central Highlands, and against police general Vu Hai Trieu for destroying 300 dissidents’ internet websites. He also filed a lawsuit demanding to abolish Article 4 of the Vietnamese Constitution which gives the Communist Party a monopoly on power. Moreover, he was actively involved in many legal human rights suits in the civilian and religious fields,  frequently posted critical commentaries and articles an the web, and gave interviews with foreign media about freedom, democracy, and human rights in Vietnam. His peaceful activities have consequently led him to a sentence of 7 years in prison, plus 3 years under house arrest.   Ms. Do Thi Minh Hanh, 26 years old, began to assist Victims of Injustice by writing petitions to reclaim their unjustly confiscated lands when she was 18. Hanh joined the movement of assistance for workers, coming to factories to learn about the situation and guiding workers in fighting against their bosses. Together with her two comrades, she advocated and helped organize strikes for better treatment at a number of factories. She was arrested on 2/23/2010 in Di Linh; and in her prison, she kept firmly and proudly resisting the police torturous measures against her through their continuous interrogations. Young and educated, yet, unlike her peer group members, she quit her good job to devote her time and energy as an activist for “Vietnamese Labor Movement”. At the court hearing, she rejected all accusations from the prosecutor and the judge, and pled not guilty for all charges.  She was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

 

During the Congress, the participants reviewed current human rights situation across the world and in Vietnam. They also looked at VNHRN activities during past two years, raised questions about strong and weak points, and offered critical missions and strategies for the future.

The re-election of the VHRN Coordinating Committee and Supervisory Board for the period 2011-2013 was also held, with Dr. Nguyen Ba Tung, the incumbent, being trusted to remain as Head of the Committee. Dr. Nguyen Van Duc, Mr Do Nhu Dien, and Mr Do Anh Tai were elected as members of the Supervisory Board.

The Congress also discussed and adopted its official statement on the human rights condition in Vietnam as follows

 

 

STATEMENT

By the 10^th Congress of the Vietnam Human Rights Network

 

Considering that:

-          The current favorable changes in the world in the fight for human rights through successful revolutions in North Africa and the Middle East, together with current positive development in Burma, have created a suitable environment for the human rights struggle in Vietnam.

-          Meanwhile, the Vietnamese communist authorities continue to carry out their brutal suppression with heavy sentences against peaceful dissidents, along with the use of rogues and discreet, systematic measures of oppression. Nevertheless, the movement for human rights keeps becoming more and more powerful, overcoming all fears to firmly demand the restoration of human rights that have been dispossessed by the regime.

 

Therefore, the 10^th VHRN Congress solemnly states that it:

1.       Warmly applauds and welcomes the successes achieved by the peoples of North Africa and the Middle East in getting their countries once for all free of dictatorships;

2.       Denounces the increasing suppression by the Vietnamese communist authorities against dissidents and peaceful activists for human rights;

3.       Praises the persistent and fearless fighting of the Vietnamese compatriots in the country, with their continuous demand of human rights in disregard of risks;

4.       Calls on the world to provide concrete support for the Vietnamese who have been sacrificing for human rights under the crush of the Vietnamese communist authorities; and

5.       Will continue to support, both morally and materially, all human rights activists in Vietnam, as well as spread and promote the human rights values to all Vietnamese.

 

Made in California, 10-22-2011

 

 

 

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