Blogger Ta Phong Tan Mistreated in Prison

 

 

VRNs - Feb 18th , 2014

 

Massachusetts, USA - After her visit for the month of February, Ta Minh Tu, who is the younger sister of blogger Ta Phong Tan gave VRNs the latest updates on her sister’s conditions.

 

“Sister Tan is currently suffering with bronchitis, which caused prolonged coughing. Rice and steamed mature water spinach are the only foods she has every day. Everything is expensive in prison as the prisoners have to buy their own foods. A tiny banana costs 2000 VND each. She has to take outside showers as they do not have bathrooms. It’s winter there now, and as a southerner, she is not used to the cold climate in the North. Her given options are inhumane. She could either get sick from taking showers in the cold weather; or develop skin diseases from sleeping on the cement without showering.

 

“Sister Tan requested our family to bring her the Bible, but prison guards did not allow her to receive it as they said that it violated prison’s rules. Even though they use prison rules and regulations to deny her the Bible, we did not see such terms on the written rules and regulations."

 

Ms. Tu said that Ms. Ta Phong Tan had sent an appeal to the appeal court for her wrongful conviction of 10 years of imprisonment for “conducting propaganda against the government” according to Article 88 of criminal codes in Vietnam. This sentence was handed down in the lower court on September 14th, 2012 and was upheld in the appeal court on December 28th 2012. Ms. Ta Phong Tan pleaded NOT GUILTY in both trials.

 

“Throughout our conversation, there were THREE security personnel sitting right besides us, watching every move and listening to every word.” Ms. Ta Minh Tu continues. “At the end of the visit, prison officers wanted me to sign a report with all of the details from our conversation. But I refused, reasoning that they listened to the entire conversation.”

 

Ms. Tu said, “Sister Tan said hello to everybody; and she also sent a handy-craft made by her to Ms. Duong Thi Tan (blogger Dieu Cay Nguyen Van Hai’s wife).”

 

Hoi Bau Bi Tuong Than (an association of Vietnamese supporting prisoners of conscience and their families) informed us that they did send representatives to accompany Ms. Ta Minh Tu to Prison Number 5, Yen Dinh district, Thanh Hoa province in hope to pay Ms. Ta Phong Tan a visit on February 14th, 2012. However, they were denied admission. Prison guards only allowed family members for the visit.

 

Prior to her arrest on September 5th, 2011, Ms. Ta was a former policewoman and member of the Communist party who made a name for herself by posting articles that were critical of the government and corruption in the Vietnamese legal system. As a former member of the party, she is able to give a unique perspective on government wrongdoings. In 2004, she started blogging about various government abuses titled Cong Ly va Su That (Justice and Truth) that was groundbreaking in terms of commenting on political news and events that were traditionally viewed as off-limits. With over 700 articles written, Tan’s blog has exposed a litany of social wrongdoings in Vietnam including corruption, unfair taxation, government overspending, illegal eminent domain, illegal land grabs, and the maltreatment of children by party officials. Ta Phong Tan is viewed as an inspiration for bloggers, citizens, and journalists who are now empowered and committed to continuing her cause.

 

Translation: VFP

 

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