Sydney PEN joins the Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International in protesting the re-arrest of Father Nguyen Van Ly on 25 July 2011.
By joining Sydney PEN you will be showing your commitment to reading and writing as human rights to be undertaken with and in the spirit of freedom.
Sydney PEN is proud to publish these resolutions passed by the Assembly of Delegates at International PEN’s 77th Congress in Belgrade, Serbia in September 2011. This document includes resolutions on Bahrain, the European Union, Vietnam, China and many other countries around the world.
Comedian and poet Zargana was released from prison in an amnesty by the Burmese government on Wednesday, 12 October 2011. Zargana was serving a thirty-five year prison sentence for his peaceful opposition activities and criticism of the government. According to this Agence France Presse report, at least 70 political prisoners were released in the amnesty.
PEN continues to demand the immediate and unconditional release of all those currently detained in Burma in violation of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, protecting the right to freedom of expression.
Maung Thura, aged 47, best known by his stage name, “Zargana” (also transcribed as ‘Zarganar'), was sentenced to forty-five years imprisonment on 21 November 2008 for violating the Electronics Act, and received an additional fourteen year prison term on 27 November 2008 for offences under four sections of the criminal code-17/2, 32 (b), 295 (a) and 505 (b), for his peaceful opposition activities, making a total of fifty-nine years. According to the news agency Mizzima,com, on 13 February 2009 the Rangoon Division Court reduced Zargana’s prison term by twenty-four years. He was expected to serve the remaining thirty-five years, and had been imprisoned at the Myitkyina prison, in the Kachin state in northern Burma, before his release.
Zargana was arrested on the evening of 4 June 2008 after leading a private relief effort to deliver aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis which struck on 2 May 2008. He is believed to be sentenced for his outspoken criticism of the government’s slow response to the cyclone, and his opposition activities.
Sydney PEN joins the Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International in welcoming the release under amnesty of writers Tran Duc Thach and Nguyen Van Tinh.
On 30 August 2011, dissident writers Tran Duc Thach and Nguyen Van Tinh were included in an amnesty celebrating Vietnamese National Day (2 September). According to Radio Free Asia (RFA), they were the only political prisoners among more than 10,000 to be freed (for the full report and an interview with Tran Duc Thach on his release click here). Both writers were arrested in September 2008 as part of an ongoing crackdown on peaceful dissent in Vietnam. They were tried under Article 88 of the Penal Code for ‘propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’ and were sentenced to three years in prison.
Tran Duc Thach, aged 59, is a prolific poet, internet writer and member of the Association of Writers of Nghe An province. He is known for his writings exposing corruption, injustice, and human rights abuses. He is the recipient of the 2010 Hellman Hammet award, administered by Human Rights Watch. Tran’s sentence was due to expire two weeks after his release. Nguyen Van Tinh, aged 68, is the co-editor of the underground review To Quoc (The Nation). He was arrested for online articles and essays published between November 2006 and September 2008. He was freed four months before the expiry of his sentence.
At the time of their release, both writers were in very poor health after being held in Nam Ha province’s labour camp under appalling conditions.
Sydney PEN is deeply concerned about the four-year sentence handed down to activist and Internet writer Lu Van Bay on 22 August 2011 solely for the peaceful expression of his views. Sydney PEN joins PEN International in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Lu Van Bay and all those detained in Vietnam in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Vietnam is a signatory.
Lu Van Bay, aged 59, is a prominent pro-democracy activist and a prolific internet writer. In his writing he focuses on social and political issues including freedom of expression and the press. He has contributed to a number of websites such as Dan Chim Viet (Vietnamese Birds), Doi Thoa (Dialogue) and To Quoc (Fatherland). According to information supplied by International PEN, Lu Van Bay was arrested at his home by police on 26 March 2011, who also seized his computer and several of his articles. In August 2011 he was sentenced to four years in prison and three years of house arrest after a half-day trial under Article 88 of the Vietnamese Criminal Code for “conducting propaganda against the regime”. He was charged specifically for ten articles he posted on various overseas Internet sites over the last four years, which called for the end of one-party rule in the country and the introduction of a multi-party system (“Vietnam jails 8th democracy activist in a month”, Associated Press).
Sydney PEN has serious concerns about the large numbers of dissidents and internet writers sentenced to long prison terms in Vietnam since its government began a concerted crackdown on freedom of expression in October 2009. These include French-Vietnamese university teacher and Internet writer Pham Minh Hoang who was sentenced on 10 August 2011 to three years in prison for his critical online writings (“VIETNAM: Internet writer sentenced”, International PEN). Sydney PEN calls on the Vietnamese authorities for the immediate and unconditional release of Lu Van Bay and all those detained in Vietnam in violation of Article 19 of the ICCPR.
Please send appeals:
Protesting the sentence handed down to activist and internet writer Lu Van Bay solely for the peaceful expression of his views;
Expressing serious concern about the large numbers of dissidents and internet writers currently detained in Vietnam, many of whom are serving lengthy sentences;
Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Lu Van Bay and all those currently detained in Vietnam in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Vietnam is a signatory.
A sample letter is available here.
Minister of Public Security
Lt Gen Tran Dai Quang
Ministry of Public Security
44 Yet Kieu Street
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Fax: + 844 3942 0223
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Pham Binh Manh
Minister of Foreign Affairs
1 Ton That Dam Street
Ba Dinh district
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Fax: + 844 3823 1872
In April 2009 the Fiji Daily Post published stores with headlines like “Man Gets On Bus” and “Breakfast As Usual” to protest the intense media scrutiny and censorship that have become the norm in Fiji. Can Australia improve dialogue with Fiji’s government while also supporting efforts to free the Fijian press? Sydney PEN is proud to publish a report by Sydney PEN intern Alison M. Martin on the question of media freedom in Fiji, and the challenges of Australian engagement with this “uncertain democracy”.
You can find the report here.
The Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International protests the three-year sentence handed down to French-Vietnamese university teacher and Internet writer Pham Minh Hoang on 10 August 2011 for his critical online writings. It calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Pham Minh Hoang and all those currently detained in Vietnam in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Vietnam is a signatory.
The following information is taken from a 10 August 2011 alert by Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF):
The verdict, passed today by a Hanoi court, was based on a charge of trying to overthrow the government. Hoang tried to “undermine national security,” Judge Vu Phi Long said during today’s trial. Hoang has decided to appeal and asks the French authorities to pressure the Vietnamese government to review his sentence, a friend said…
A politically-committed blogger using the pen-name of Phan Kien Quoc, Hoang wrote articles that circulated widely online on education, the environment and the defence of Vietnam’s sovereignty in its relations with China. He participated in a campaign against Chinese mining of bauxite in Vietnam’s central highlands and gave extra-curricular training in leadership to his students. He is also a member of the banned pro-democracy party Viet Tan.
Armed security agents tried to intimidate journalists during today’s trial and to dissuade them from covering the proceedings. The judge ruled that Hoang had “blackened the image of the country” and was guilty of “activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s government.” Arrested on 13 August 2010, Hoang spent almost a year in pre-trial detention. Under Vietnamese law, this will be discounted from the jail time he has to serve.
Hoang’s conviction comes just eight days after an appeal court upheld a seven-year jail sentence for another prominent blogger and dissident, Cu Huy Ha Vu. Nguyen Van Ly, a Catholic priest and editor of the underground publication “Tu Do Ngon Luan”, was returned to jail just two weeks ago after a year and a half on parole because of very poor health…
The legality of the activities of Hoang and the other jailed netizens is guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and articles 35, 50, 53 and 69 of Vietnam’s own constitution.
Please send appeals protesting the detention of university teacher and Internet writer Pham Minh Hoang, and calling for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Vietnam is a signatory.
Appeals to be sent to:
His Excellency Nguyên Minh Triêt
President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
C/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Hanoi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Consulate – General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Sydney
Suite 205, Level 2
Edgecliff Centre, 203 – 233 New South Head Road
Edgecliff
NSW 2027
Fax: 02 93281653
Vietnamese police re-arrested editor and Catholic priest Father Nguyen Van Ly (pronounced – noiyen ven lee) on 25 July 2011, allegedly for distributing anti-government leaflets during his parole. Nguyen Van Ly had been on medical leave from an eight year prison sentence for over a year.
Sydney PEN is encouraged to learn that Australian officials, along with officials from other embassies in Hanoi, have raised Father Ly’s case with the Vietnamese authorities. Sydney PEN would like to encourage PEN members to contact diplomats here and overseas in support of Fr Nguyen Van Ly. A sample letter is available at the bottom of this post.
A close friend of Father Nguyen Van Ly sent this message to Sydney PEN on 25 July:
Father Nguyen Van Ly
Today (25 July) at 14:30 LT(GMT+7), at Hue city, public security police (in police van and ambulance car) came to the retreat house of Hue Archbishop without a prior notice and forced Father Nguyen Van Ly to go back to the camp in order to continue serving his prison sentence.
Father P.
Retreat House, Hue Archbishop.
Father Nguyen Van Ly sent this message to a PEN member on 24 July 2011, the day before his re-arrest:
In July 2009, my right arm and my right foot were paralyzed 100%. After 15 months of treatment in Hue, my right arm and my right foot have been restored to about 60%. I can hold a pen and write slowly like a child attending the first class of a primary school. I can limp in and out the room without a walking stick for a short distance (10 to 12 meters). Very slow recovery is observed because of my age (65) and the consequences of many long years in prison. Recently, I have developed an inflamed prostate (hoping it is not a cancer). Please express my gratitude to PEN Writers in Prison Committee, PEN Sydney/WIPC and all PEN members for their multiple action to defend and help me.
The Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International protests the re-arrest of Nguyen Van Ly on 25 July 2011. It calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Father Nguyen Van Ly in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Vietnam is a signatory, and on humanitarian grounds.
Background
Father Nguyen Van Ly, a Catholic priest and co-editor of the underground online magazine Tu do Ngôn luan (Free Speech), was arrested on 19 February 2007 and sentenced to eight years in prison on 30 March 2007 for ‘Conducting propaganda against the State’. Nguyen Van Ly is a leading member of the pro-democracy movement “Bloc 8406”, and has spent some seventeen years in prison since 1977 for his activism in support of freedom of expression and religion, in harsh conditions and often in solitary confinement. In October 2001 he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his online publication of an essay on human rights violations in Vietnam, and was a main case of PEN International. He was released under amnesty in February 2005 (see previous alerts). He is an Honorary Member of Sydney PEN.
For more information about the arrest, see this Amnesty International Press Release of 26 July 2011.
Appeal
Sydney PEN urges members to ask Australian diplomatic representatives to intervene in the case, and ask them to pass on appeals to Vietnamese representatives protesting the re-arrest of Father Nguyen Van Ly, and expressing serious concerns for his health; calling for his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Vietnam is a state party; and on humanitarian grounds.
A pro forma letter for Sydney PEN members is available here.
Please send appeals to:
His Excellency Nguyên Minh Triêt
President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
C/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Hanoi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Nguyên Tân Dung
Prime Minister
1 Hoang Hoa Tham Street
Hanoi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Lê Doan Hop
Minister of Culture and Information
1 Hoang Hoa Tham Street
Hanoi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
H.E. Mr Allaster Cox
Ambassador
Australian Embassy
HANOI
Locked Bag 40
Kingston ACT 2604
Fax +84-4 3774 0111
Lauren Bain
Director of the Vietnam, Burma and Laos Section
R.G. Casey Building
John McEwen Crescent
Barton ACT 0221
Fax: +61 2 6261 3111
The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
For further information contact Cathy McCann at PEN International Writers in Prison Committee, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email: cathy.mccann@pen-international.org
London, UK, 31 March 2011—PEN International praises the U.N. Human Rights Council for its recent unanimous vote on the right of all individuals to practice religion, which ended a thirteen-year campaign by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to make blasphemy a crime.
“Freedom of expression may cause discomfort, but it is the ultimate protection for people of any faith,” said John Ralston Saul, President of PEN International.
Since 1997, a coalition of countries led by the 57-nation OIC has put forward resolutions on “combating religious defamation” that contained language demanding that states ban blasphemy and other religious denigration. PEN and other human rights organizations have lobbied against the proposals, warning that they would significantly erode crucial international and national protections for freedom of expression.
In September 2010, PEN International hosted an influential discussion at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, citing numerous cases where governments have used religious defamation laws to jail writers and suppress unpopular opinions. In live testimony and in videotaped statements, writers and free-expression advocates from around the world spoke about the potential harm of imposing legal restrictions on expression considered offensive or defamatory to religions. They argued that such restrictions not only would do little to foster mutual understanding and respect, but also could be used to stifle creative freedom and suppress minority views and religions.
On 24 March 2011, instead of reintroducing the religious defamation resolution at the current Human Rights Council session, the OIC presented a new resolution that focuses on ending religious discrimination. The resolution removes all references to protecting religions and shifts the emphasis to protecting individual believers, something PEN has long argued is the correct approach both in principle and in the law.
“This unanimous resolution affirms that all nations can come together to agree upon language and a framework for protecting all forms of freedom of expression,” said Saul. “The writers of PEN have expressed their belief most passionately that rights are inherent in individuals, not institutions such as organized religions.”
In the words of Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka last September, “Since you have so many religions in the world, and there is only one humanity, that one humanity and the fundamental claims of humanity have to take precedence.”
HomePEN International is alarmed at reports of a violent crackdown on government critics and human rights defenders in recent days in response to increased fears of social unrest. Over one hundred human rights defenders and activists have reportedly been harassed, intimidated or detained and a number of foreign journalists assaulted in a targeted campaign to suppress dissent. Members of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre (ICPC) are amongst those targeted. PEN International reminds the Chinese authorities of their obligations to uphold the right to freedom of expression, freedom of information and freedom of assembly as guaranteed by Article 35 of the Chinese constitution and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which it is a state party. It calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained for the peaceful expression of their views, and seeks urgent guarantees of the safety of those held without due process.
Since 16 February 2011 police have stepped up their harassment of human rights defenders and activists across the country, apparently in response to anonymous calls for ‘Jasmine Revolution’ protests. Many have been briefly detained, harassed, summoned or place under house arrest, but at least five prominent rights activists and dissidents have been reportedly criminally detained for allegedly ‘endangering state security’ and may face charges of ‘inciting subversion’ or ‘subversion of state power’. They include writer Ran Yunfei and prominent ‘weiquan’ or ‘rights protection’ lawyer Teng Biao, both members of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre, arrested on 19 February 2011. Both men are feared to be at risk of torture or ill-treatment in detention.
PEN is also alarmed at reports of the increasingly widespread use of extra-judicial or ‘soft’ detention, in which government critics are subject to arbitrary arrest without charge, abduction, assault and intimidation. Of particular concern is the persecution of Liu Xia, wife of imprisoned dissident writer and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, who has been held incommunicado under strict house arrest at her home in Beijing since 18 October 2010 and is denied any contact with the outside world. Concerns for her welfare and psychological integrity are acute.
For further information see the following links:
Statement by Independent Chinese PEN Centre on the recent crackdown:
http://www.pen.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5642/prmID/172
Writings by Ran Yunfei:
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/china/ran-yunfei/
BBC News reports:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12608428
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12593328
Please send appeals:
Expressing alarm at the recent crackdown on dissent in which writers, journalists and human rights defenders are amongst those to have targeted;
Reminding the Chinese authorities of their obligations under Article 35 of the Chinese constitution and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which it is a state party;
Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all those currently detained in the P.R.China for the peaceful exercise of their right to free expression.
Send appeals to:
His Excellency Hu Jintao President of the People’s Republic of China State Council Beijing 100032 P.R. China
Director of the Beijing Public Security Bureau MA Zhenchuan Juzhang Beijingshi Gong'anju 9 Dongdajie, Qianmen Dongchengqu Beijingshi 100740 People’s Republic of China. Fax: +86 1065242927
Minister of Justice WU Aiying Buzhang Sifabu 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie Chaoyangqu Beijingshi 100020 People’s Republic of China.
Minister of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China. MENG Jianzhu Gong'anbu 14 Dongchang'anjie Dongchengqu Beijingshi 100741 People’s Republic of China.
Please note that there are no fax numbers for the Chinese authorities. WiPC recommends that you copy your appeal to the Chinese embassy in your country asking them to forward it and welcoming any comments.
You may find it easier to write to the Chinese ambassador in your own country asking him or her to forward your appeal. Most embassies are obliged to forward such appeals to the relevant officials in the country. A letter or petition signed by an eminent member of your Centre may give make it more likely for your appeal to be considered. Similarly if your appeal is published in your local press and copied to the Chinese ambassador, this too may have greater impact.
See this useful link to find the contact details of the Chinese embassy in your country Chinese embassies abroad
February 25, 2011
The Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC) expresses concern for the health and living conditions of Liu Xia, wife of 2010 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, who has been cut off from any contact with the outside world since October 18, 2010. Liu Xia sent out an urgent call to friends on February 19, saying that she could no longer stand the forced isolation.
During her incommunicado house arrest, Liu Xia’s phone and internet have been disconnected and her cell phone confiscated. She is not allowed to leave her apartment or receive any visitors, including members of her own family. Security police are parked in front of her building, and they are apparently doing her grocery shopping for her. “I will go crazy,” she said in her message, sent within the few moments that she successfully secured an Internet connection.
ICPC strongly protests the detention of Dr. Teng Biao, renowned lawyer and legal consultant to the Writers in Prison Committee of ICPC, whose home was searched and who was then detained on the afternoon of February 19.
According to ICPC’s information, Teng Biao was taken from his home by police on the afternoon of February 19. Police searched his home for more than two hours and confiscated two computers, a fax machine and printer, documents, books, and a CD containing documentaries and photos. Police set a mobile phone signal shielding device during the raid so that Teng Biao was unable to make or receive calls. He is being held incommunicado and no official notice of detention has been delivered to his family, as required under Chinese law.
Dr. Teng Biao, lecturer of China University of Political Science and Law, is one of the three well-known lawyers who initiated a constitutional review of the “custody and repatriation system” after Sun Zhigang’s death in 2003. In recent years, he has been involved in a series of cases as a human rights lawyer. He won the French Republic Human Rights Award in 2007.
ICPC has also learned about the following arrests and detentions:
At the same time Boxun, Canyu and ICPC’s web sites have gone dark, presumably as a result of a cyber-attack. The Chinese government has launched a large-scale crackdown since the awarding of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo, ICPC’s former and honorary president. It is believed that the crackdown is related to the “Jasmine Revolution,” which was initiated in 13 cities in China on February 20.
ICPC believes that all citizens have the right to freedom of expression, including expression on the Internet, freedom of demonstration, and freedom of assembly. These rights are guaranteed in the Chinese Constitution. The suppression of all these rights has violated Article 35 of Chinese Constitution and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which China has signed. ICPC strongly protests the recent arrests, harassment, and crackdown. It is extremely concerned about Teng Biao, Ran Yunfei, Chen Wei, Wu Wei, and others who may become new victims of this literary inquisition.
We urge Chinese authorities to end their inhumane treatment of Liu Xia, release her from isolation, allow her to visit her husband in jail, and allow her to have contact with the outside world. We urge the authorities to end their crackdown and release our colleagues, including Teng Biao, Ran Yunfei, Chen Wei, Wu Wei, Hua Chunhui, Liang Haiyi, and all others immediately.
PEN International is the oldest human rights organization and international literary organization. The Independent Chinese PEN Center is among its 145 member centers and aims to protect Chinese writers’ freedom of expression and freedom to write worldwide and advocates for the rights of Chinese writers and journalists who are imprisoned, threatened, persecuted or harassed.
For more information, contact Tienchi M.-Liao, President of the Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC) Dr. Yu Zhang, Executive Secretary and WiPC Coordinator(ICPC)
Tel: 49-221-8015 8705 + 46-8-50022792
Email: secretariat@chinesepen.org, wipc@comhem.se
Websites: http://www.chinesepen.org and http://www.liuxiaobo.eu/
GOVERNMENT ADDRESSES
His Excellency Hu Jintao President of the People’s Republic of China State Council Beijing 100032 People’s Republic of China.
Director of the Beijing Public Security Bureau MA Zhenchuan Juzhang Beijingshi Gong'anju 9 Dongdajie, Qianmen Dongchengqu Beijingshi 100740 People’s Republic of China.
Minister of Justice WU Aiying Buzhang Sifabu 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie Chaoyangqu Beijingshi 100020 People’s Republic of China.
Minister of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China. MENG Jianzhu Buzhang Gong'anbu 14 Dongchang'anjie Dongchengqu Beijingshi 100741 People’s Republic of China.
