Amnesty takes on case of detained Vietnamese trade unionists

The imprisonment of five trade unionists in Viet Nam is being highlighted by Amnesty International in their Global Write-A-Thon campaign.

Tran Quoc Hien, who was elected as spokesperson for the United Workers-Farmers Organization (UWFO) in January, was arrested after holding the position for only two days. He has been accused of being a member of the Internet-based pro-democracy movement Bloc 8406.

Authorities claim Hien “joined reactionary organizations over the internet,” and say he and his accomplices incited demonstrations and “distorted” articles on the Internet under “the guise of helping members of the public lodge petitions.” In May, Hien was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment plus two years’ probation.

The four other UWFO leaders, Nguyen Tan Hoanh, Tran Thi Le Hang, Doan Huy Chuong and his father Doan Van Dien, are believed to be held at B5 prison camp in Dong Nai province, although Amnesty International does not know what charges they will be tried for, or when their case will be brought to trial.

Amnesty International invites people to take action by writing letters to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung calling for the release of these prisoners.

For the Amnesty International release, click here.