Vietnamese-American activist group calls for release of prisoners in Viet Nam

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a U.S.-based group, released a protest letter Tuesday regarding the sentences of human rights lawyers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan. The sentences for both Dai and Nhan were reduced during an appeals trial, but upheld by the court. Dai and Nhan were sentenced for spreading propaganda under “article 88” of the criminal code.

The letter states: “The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) strongly protests the sentences of lawyers Le Thi Cong Nhan and Nguyen Van Dai’s appeal trial and the use of brutal force to attack and prevent pro-democracy activists who came to attend the appeal trial…”

The PDP also mentions the recent arrest of democracy activists, saying the arrests “have confirmed to the international community that Vietnam is still under a totalitarian regime where the freedom of expression is neither respected nor tolerated.”

The group also called for the release of other “article 88” victims, including Dr. Le Nguyen Sang, Journalist Huynh Nguyen Dao, Lawyers Nguyen Bac Truyen, Tran Quoc Hien, Father Nguyen Van Ly, Nguyen Phong, and Nguyen Binh Thanh.

To read the full letter, click here.
For the AFP article on the case, click here.