Thank you letter from Viet Tan Chairman

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December 10, 2010

Ladies and gentlemen,

Since 2007, the Vietnamese communist authorities have increasingly suppressed the peaceful voices of democracy activists and patriotic citizens. The authorities utilize the legal system, specifically Article 79 and Article 88 of the Penal Code, to arbitrarily arrest and imprison those who speak out for social justice and in opposition to the detrimental policies of the Vietnamese Communist Party leadership.

The crackdown worsened in 2010. Many people were arrested, trialed and received heavy sentences. However, it is quite obvious that despite the intensifying persecution of the past three years, the Hanoi regime has been unable to stifle the democracy movement and prevent citizens from speaking out for the national interest. On the contrary, the very nature of the authority to act against the will of the people became evident and has only led to heightened resentment at all levels of society.

This year in particular, Viet Tan has partnered with other organizations and pro-democracy activists within the country to promote activities protecting the rights of citizens; warn against Chinese aggression and advocate for democratic change. As a result, members of Viet Tan faced immense pressure and authorities recently arrested four of our members: Professor Pham Minh Hoang, Pastor Duong Kim Khai, Ms. Tran Thi Thuy and Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam.

Over the last two months, we received strong global support for the petition with more than 17,000 signatures.

In early October 2010, we launched a petition campaign denouncing the crackdown against voices of conscience in Vietnam. We called on the United Nations Human Rights Council, European Union, ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and governments of democratic countries to exert pressure on the Vietnamese authorities to comply with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and immediately release the four aforementioned individuals as well as all other political prisoners. Over the last two months, we received strong global support for the petition with more than 17,000 signatures collected from people in Vietnam and many other countries throughout the world. To mark the 62nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 2010, we shall present the petition with all the collected signatures to the above-mentioned entities and foreign ministries.

With this encouraging response to the “Free Them Now” campaign, on behalf of all members of Viet Tan and in particular the four detainees, we would like to sincerely thank everyone for your much valued support. Your concern for this matter, through supporting the petition, has contributed to raising international awareness for human rights abuses in Vietnam; declaring to the world that the people of Vietnam shall never accept a communist dictatorship and those who courageously join the struggle for a brighter future for the nation shall have the support of everyone who values freedom and democracy. Yours sincerely,

Diem H. Do
Chairman of Viet Tan

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