Country Advice

Vietnam – VNM39109 – Viet Tan – Vietnam Progression Party – Pro- Democracy Advocates – Father Thadus Nguyen Van Ly – Bloggers – Treatment by Authorities – Attempts to Establish a Farmers‟ Union in 2005 – Attitude of Authorities Towards Vietnamese who Travel Overseas 22 August 2011

1. Please provide information on the Viet Tan, including its history, structure, policies and leadership.

The Viet Tan1 is a political organisation which advocates nonviolence and democracy. However, the group has its historical roots in armed resistance. Academic Carlyle Thayer states that both the Viet Tan and the Vietnamese government agree that a former Navy Admiral, Hoang Co Minh, founded the National United Front for the Liberation of Vietnam (NUFLV) in April 1980. He later founded the Viet Tan in September 1982. The aim of both organisations was to overthrow the government, using violent means. However, in September 2004, the NUFLV disbanded and the Viet Tan began conducting its activities openly, with its leaders releasing a new platform which stressed democracy and nonviolence.2

Between 2004 and 2007, the Viet Tan reportedly lobbied international donors and leaders, engaged in public demonstrations and set up a range of businesses and programs to fund their activities. In 2007 a wave of reporting in state-run media dubbed the Viet Tan a “terrorist organisation”. Thayer argued that the state‟s strong response to organisations such as the Viet Tan during 2006-07 indicated that civil society groups were growing and becoming increasingly networked.3

The modern Viet Tan is based in the United States.4 Whilst the Viet Tan has both exile-based and in-country membership, the movement is mainly managed from outside Vietnam.5 The

1 Also known as: „Vietnam Canh Tan Cach Mang Dang‟; see „Vietnam – Daring to Speak Out‟ 2003, Foreign Correspondent, 28 October http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/stories/s977284.htm – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 1 2 Thayer, C. 2009, „Vietnam and the Challenge of Political Civil Society‟, Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, Vol. 31, No. 1, p. 17-18 http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/contemporary_southeast_asia_a_journal_of_international_and_strategic_affairs/v031/31 .1.thayer.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011 –Attachment 2 3 Thayer, C. 2009, „Vietnam and the Challenge of Political Civil Society‟, Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, Vol. 31, No. 1, p. 17-18 http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/contemporary_southeast_asia_a_journal_of_international_and_strategic_affairs/v031/31 .1.thayer.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011 –Attachment 2 4 „Australian arrested over Vietnam protest: opposition group‟ 2010, ABC News, 12 October http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-10-12/australian-arrested-over-vietnam-protest/2293714 – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 3

Page 1 of 18 Viet Tan website states that the organisation works with both Vietnamese and diaspora-based pro-democracy groups.6 In 2008, the Asia Times reported that the Viet Tan claimed that it did not receive Western government funding, however it did appear to have good political connections as its chairman was called to a meeting with then President George W Bush in 2008.7

Formally, the Viet Tan states that it is directed by a Central Committee which is led by a chairman and general secretary. The party is then organised by local chapters.8 In January 2008, the Asia Times reported that, whilst the Viet Tan declined to reveal its membership figures, it claimed to be Vietnam‟s largest political organisation outside of the ruling communist party. 9 In 2003, a Viet Tan spokesperson stated that there were “thousands of members across the country and offshore”, and Viet Tan supporters from within government. The spokesperson further stated that these members were organised into grassroots cells, which collected information on arrests and party corruption, and mobilised youth.10 Some commentators have suggested that by the time the Viet Tan publicly committed to nonviolence, the first generation of Viet Tan members were being replaced by Western- educated professionals.11 Viet Tan‟s website states that it welcomes new members, and that it communicates via a mailing list and social media.12 As of 2009, Viet Tan also reportedly had a radio station called New Horizon Radio, which broadcast into Vietnam, in Vietnamese language. 13

According to its website, the Viet Tan still seeks democratic change in Vietnam through nonviolent means.14 In addition to this overarching goal, the website lists three public campaigns organised by the Viet Tan: a campaign for internet freedom; a campaign critical of bauxite mining in the Central Highlands; and a freedom for prisoners of conscience campaign.15 These three issues are mentioned, passim, in this country advice as issues sensitive to the Vietnamese government.

2. Please provide similar information in relation to the Vietnam Progression Party.

5 Crispin, S. 2008, „Democratic pebble in Vietnam‟s shoe‟, Asia Times, 18 January – Attachment 4 6 „Why Viet Tan‟ (undated), Viet Tan website http://viettan.org/spip.php?article9226 – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 5 7 Crispin, S. 2008, „Democratic pebble in Vietnam‟s shoe‟, Asia Times, 18 January –Attachment 4 8 „Who We Are‟ (undated), Viet Tan website, http://viettan.org/spip.php?article9230 – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 6 9 Crispin, S. 2008, „Democratic pebble in Vietnam‟s shoe‟, Asia Times, 18 January –Attachment 4 10 „Vietnam – Daring to Speak Out‟ 2003, Foreign Correspondent, 28 October http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/stories/s977284.htm – Accessed 11 August 2011 –Attachment 1 11 Crispin, S. 2008, „Democratic pebble in Vietnam‟s shoe‟, Asia Times, 18 January –Attachment 4 12 „How to Get Involved‟ (undated), Viet Tan website http://viettan.org/spip.php?article9229 – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 7 13 Thayer, C. 2009, „Vietnam and the Challenge of Political Civil Society‟, Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, Vol. 31, No. 1, p. 17-18, http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/contemporary_southeast_asia_a_journal_of_international_and_strategic_affairs/v031/31 .1.thayer.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011 –Attachment 2 14 „Why Viet Tan‟ (undated), Viet Tan website http://viettan.org/spip.php?article9226 – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 5 15 „Current Campaigns‟ (undated), Viet Tan website, http://viettan.org/spip.php?article9228 – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 8

Page 2 of 18 More limited information was located regarding the Vietnam Progression Party (VPP), or “Dang Thang Tien Vietnam”.16

The VPP was founded on 6 September, 2006. According to one academic, Father Nguyen Van Ly, whose activities are discussed in the responses to Questions 3 and 4, was an adviser to the fledgling party. Of the four other founding leaders, the most high profile was lawyer Le Thi Cong Nhan, who was a signatory to the Bloc 8406 manifesto as described in the response to Question 3. Nhan had been hired by the British Embassy in relation to a drug smuggling case. The leadership of the VPP represents links to both Bloc 8406 pro-democracy movement and the city of Hue.17

According to academic Carlyle Thayer, two days after its official founding, the VPP issued an interim platform, which called for multi-party democracy, general elections, freedom of religion and protection of private property. 18 Another source also states that the party‟s primary goal was “restoring freedom of religion, speech, and association” in order to support a society which values human rights.19 The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has added that the VPP sought ties with foreign democracy activists.20 Thayer wrote that the VPP represented “a younger generation of political dissidents who rejected ‟s legacy”.21

With regards to organisational structure, one source merely describes the VPP as “small”.22 Another paper by Thayer argues that describing groups such as the VPP as political parties is problematic, given their lack of a large and geographically dispersed membership base.23 BBC News reported that support for the party, even after the merger, was limited to “a core of democracy activists” in Vietnam‟s major cities.24 In 2007, the VPP merged with another party

16„Father Ly‟s Biography‟ 2007, **FREE** Father Nguyễn Văn Lý website, 1 March http://fathernguyenvanly.blogspot.com/2007/03/father-lys-biography.html – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 9 17Thayer, C. A. 2008, „One-Party Rule and the Challenge of Political Civil Society in Vietnam‟, Viet Tan website, 3 December, p. 14-15 http://www.viettan.org/IMG/pdf/Civil_Society_in_Vietnam_-_Carlyle_Thayer.pdf – Accessed 1 April 2011 – Attachment 10 18 Thayer, C. A. 2008, „One-Party Rule and the Challenge of Political Civil Society in Vietnam‟, Viet Tan website, 3 December, p. 14-15 http://www.viettan.org/IMG/pdf/Civil_Society_in_Vietnam_-_Carlyle_Thayer.pdf – Accessed 1 April 2011 – Attachment 10 19 US Commission on International Religious Freedom 2008, Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, May, p.47 – Attachment 11 20 United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention 2009, „Opinion No. 14/2010 (Socialist Republic of Vietnam)‟, Volunteers USA website, 29 May http://www.amnesty- volunteer.org/usa/group19/Working-Group-Opinion-3-September-2010.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 12 21Thayer, C. A. 2008, „One-Party Rule and the Challenge of Political Civil Society in Vietnam‟, Viet Tan website, 3 December, p. 14-15 http://www.viettan.org/IMG/pdf/Civil_Society_in_Vietnam_-_Carlyle_Thayer.pdf – Accessed 1 April 2011 – Attachment 10 22 Grinter, L. E. 2007, „Vietnam‟s Security Challenges: Dilemmas of Reform Communism‟, Southeast Review of Asian Studies, Vol. 29, p. 92 http://www.uky.edu/Centers/Asia/SECAAS/Seras/2007/06_Grinter_2007.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 13 23Thayer, C. A. 2009, „Challenges to the Legitimacy of Vietnam‟s One Party State‟, Paper presented to the international workshop on ‘The Search for Legitimacy: Managing the Consequences of Asian Development,’ Singapore, July, p. 17 – Attachment 14 24Hayton, B. 2007,‟Vietnam dissident priest detained‟, BBC News, 24 February http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia- pacific/6393975.stm – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 15

Page 3 of 18 and formed the Lac Hong Group.25 Nevertheless, a blog, thangtienmtp.wordpress.com, which contains the VPP logo, urged readers not to elect deputies to the National Assembly in May 2011 elections.26 The website also contains the Bloc 8406 manifesto, which stresses multiparty democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of association and religion, and non- violent means.27

One year after the founding of the VPP, its leaders were arrested and sentenced for conducting propaganda against the state.28

3. Please provide information on Father Thadus Nguyen Van Ly, his activities and his history. Father Thadus (or Thaddeus) Nguyen Van Ly is a Catholic priest and prominent dissident from Hue diocese, on the central coast of Vietnam. The Wall Street Journal has described Van Ly as “a potential lightning rod for dissent”, and “one of Vietnam‟s best known antigovernment critics”.29

Father Van Ly has been a persistent advocate for religious freedom and other human rights such as democracy and freedom of the press.30 31 Between 1977 and 2004, Father Van Ly reportedly spent a total of 14 years in prison for actions “defending religious freedom and human rights”.32 In July 2011, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported that Father Van Ly had been imprisoned many times after trials which have not followed due process or international law.33 According to a blog dedicated to him, Father Van Ly was first arrested in 1977 after distributing two essays, written by an Archbishop, which were critical of the Vietnamese government. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment but released several months later.34 In 2001, he submitted written testimony, which was critical of the government, to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.35 Also in 2001, Father Van Ly was given cumulative sentences totalling 15 years for “damaging national

25Thayer, C. A. 2008, „One-Party Rule and the Challenge of Political Civil Society in Vietnam‟, Viet Tan website, 3 December, p. 14-15 http://www.viettan.org/IMG/pdf/Civil_Society_in_Vietnam_-_Carlyle_Thayer.pdf – Accessed 1 April 2011 – Attachment 10 26 „Call to Boycott Against the Election of the 13th Communist Assembly‟ 2011, thangtienmtp.wordpress.com website, 22 April http://thangtienmtp.wordpress.com/english/ – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 16 27 „Manifesto on Freedom and Democracy for Vietnam in 2006‟ 2011, thangtienmtp.wordpress.com website, 13 May http://thangtieneng.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/hello-world/ – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 17 28 US Commission on International Religious Freedom 2008, Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, May, p.47 – Attachment 11 29 „U.S. Protests Treatment of Diplomat in Vietnam‟ 2011, The Wall Street Journal, 6 January http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704405704576064832396257142.html – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment18 30 „U.S. Protests Treatment of Diplomat in Vietnam‟ 2011, The Wall Street Journal, 6 January http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704405704576064832396257142.html – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 18 31 „Father Ly arrested despite poor health‟ 2011, Christian Solidarity Worldwide – USA, 28 July http://www.cswusa.com/Vietnam.ihtml?id=630080 – Accessed 15 August 2011 – Attachment 19 32 „Fr Nguyen Van Ly released, handed over to the diocese of Hue‟ 2010, Asia News.it website, 15 March http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Fr-Nguyen-Van-Ly-released,-handed-over-to-the-diocese-of-Hue-17891.html – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 20 33 „Father Ly arrested despite poor health‟ 2011, Christian Solidarity Worldwide – USA, 28 July http://www.cswusa.com/Vietnam.ihtml?id=630080 – Accessed 15 August 2011 –Attachment 19 34 „Father Ly‟s Biography‟ 2007, **FREE** Father Nguyễn Văn Lý website, 1 March http://fathernguyenvanly.blogspot.com/2007/03/father-lys-biography.html – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 9 35 US Department of State 2004, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003 – Vietnam, 25 February Section 1 (a) – Attachment 21

Page 4 of 18 unity”. In 2002 Father Van Ly‟s niece and two nephews were sentenced to three years imprisonment for relaying information on his activities to foreign journalists.36

In early 2004, Father Van Ly was released from prison and put under house arrest. In 2006, he became a co-author of the “Manifesto on Freedom and Democracy for Vietnam. 37 By the end of 2006, the manifesto had reportedly been signed by over 2,000 people.38 The signatories to this Manifesto later became known as Bloc 8406.39 Also in 2006, Father Van Ly became a founding member of the Vietnam Progression Party.40

In February 2007, security police arrested Father Van Ly. He was subsequently sentenced to eight years in prison and five years under house arrest for actions deemed to undermine the state, including his support for Bloc 8406.41 Father Van Ly‟s was physically prevented from speaking during his trial, with a police officer holding a hand over his mouth. The photograph included below, of Father Van Ly with his mouth held shut at the trial, gained international attention.42 43

Father Van Ly, on trial, 30 March 2007.

Father Van Ly was reportedly held in Ba Sao labour camp from 2007 until he suffered a stroke and was hospitalised in late 2009. In March 2010 he was released and placed under

36 US Department of State 2004, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003 – Vietnam, 25 February Section 1 (a) – Attachment 21 37 „Father Ly‟s Biography‟ 2007, **FREE** Father Nguyễn Văn Lý website, 1 March http://fathernguyenvanly.blogspot.com/2007/03/father-lys-biography.html – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 9 38 Freedom House 2010, Countries at the Crossroads 2010 – Vietnam, Freedom House website http://freedomhouse.org/uploads/ccr/country-7949-9.pdf – Accessed 31 January 2011 Attachment 22 39 „Father Ly‟s Biography‟ 2007, **FREE** Father Nguyễn Văn Lý website, 1 March http://fathernguyenvanly.blogspot.com/2007/03/father-lys-biography.html – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 9 40 „Fr Nguyen Van Ly released, handed over to the diocese of Hue‟ 2010, Asia News.it website, 15 March http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Fr-Nguyen-Van-Ly-released,-handed-over-to-the-diocese-of-Hue-17891.html – Accessed 11 August 2011 –Attachment 20 41 „Father Nguyen Van Ly‟ (undated), PEN International website http://pen.org.au/about-us/honorary- members/bio/nguyen-van-ly/ – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 23 42 „Fr Nguyen Van Ly released, handed over to the diocese of Hue‟ 2010, Asia News.it website, 15 March http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Fr-Nguyen-Van-Ly-released,-handed-over-to-the-diocese-of-Hue-17891.html – Accessed 11 August 2011 –Attachment 20 43 „Father Ly arrested despite poor health‟ 2011, Christian Solidarity Worldwide – USA, 28 July http://www.cswusa.com/Vietnam.ihtml?id=630080 – Accessed 15 August 2011 –Attachment 19

Page 5 of 18 house arrest, in Hue, on medical grounds.44 He was prevented from giving interviews during this period of house arrest in Hue.45 In January 2011, a US diplomat was reportedly manhandled by Vietnamese police when he attempted to visit Father Van Ly: the United States lodged an official protest with the Vietnamese Government regarding the incident.46 Despite medical concerns, Father Van Ly was re-arrested in July 2011. At the time of writing he remains imprisoned. According to Agence France Presse, he is now aged in his 60s and suffers a tumour.47

Father Van Ly has gained international attention for his pro-democracy efforts on several occasions. In 1983, Amnesty International reportedly adopted Father Van Ly as a prisoner of conscience.48 In 2009, he was a candidate for the European Parliament‟s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.49 On two occasions, in 2009 and again in 2010, an Australian Ambassador has tabled concerns for Father Van Ly at the Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue.50

4. Deleted.

5. To what extent are people free to engage in blogging in Vietnam?

Generally speaking, blogging is popular in Vietnam. As of October 2008, there were 1.1 million blogs in Vietnam, most of them non-political.51 However, Vietnamese citizens are not free to post articles which are critical of Vietnam‟s one-party government, as demonstrated by the government‟s increasing efforts to regulate the online sphere and regulate content it deems to be “harmful”.52

Freedom House rates Vietnam‟s level of internet freedom as „Not Free‟.53 According to BBC News, Vietnam was one of the Committee to Protect Journalists‟ “10 worst countries to be a

44 „Father Nguyen Van Ly‟ (undated), PEN International website http://pen.org.au/about-us/honorary- members/bio/nguyen-van-ly/ – Accessed 11 August 2011 –Attachment 23 45 „Father Ly arrested despite poor health‟ 2011, Christian Solidarity Worldwide – USA, 28 July http://www.cswusa.com/Vietnam.ihtml?id=630080 – Accessed 15 August 2011 –Attachment 19 46 „U.S. Protests Treatment of Diplomat in Vietnam‟ 2011, The Wall Street Journal, 6 January http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704405704576064832396257142.html – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 18 47 „Vietnam under pressure to release jailed priest‟ 2011, Agence France Presse, 26 July http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jKT96BHMDVfkAlxiEOjgadSj0ftw?docId=CNG.a18f8f3a 800f1e93dbfd0e596f0760d6.f31 – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 24 48 „Fr Nguyen Van Ly released, handed over to the diocese of Hue‟ 2010, Asia News.it website, 15 March http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Fr-Nguyen-Van-Ly-released,-handed-over-to-the-diocese-of-Hue-17891.html – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 20 49 „Father Nguyen Van Ly‟ (undated), PEN International website http://pen.org.au/about-us/honorary- members/bio/nguyen-van-ly/ – Accessed 11 August 2011 –Attachment 23 50 „Father Nguyen Van Ly‟ (undated), PEN International website http://pen.org.au/about-us/honorary- members/bio/nguyen-van-ly/ – Accessed 11 August 2011 –Attachment 23 51 Freedom House 2011, Freedom on the Net 2011 – Vietnam, 18 April, p. 6 – Attachment 26 52 Freedom House 2011, Freedom on the Net 2011 – Vietnam, 18 April, p. 5 – Attachment 26 53 Freedom House 2011, Freedom on the Net 2011 – Vietnam, 18 April, p. 1 – Attachment 26

Page 6 of 18 blogger” in 2009, and deemed an “Enemy of the Internet” by Reporters Without Borders in 2010.54

In December 2008, the government began formal regulation of the internet, including blogging. These regulations affected both individual bloggers and the companies providing platforms for blogs, for example Blogger.com or Wordpress.com.55 Freedom House reported that the Ministry for Information and Culture (MIC) issued a directive in 2008 which affected blogging platforms, as it required them to “remove “harmful” content, report to the government every six months, and provide information about individual bloggers upon request.” This directive had the effect of censoring content critical of the government on blogs hosted from within Vietnam. The deputy minister for information and communications reportedly stated that he would contact international blogging platform providers, such as Google and Yahoo!, to request their cooperation with censorship. As of 2010 there were no reports that these providers were assisting with such a request.56

In December 2008 Time also reported that new legislation prohibited individual bloggers from posting content which could incite violence or crime, undermine national security or disclose state secrets. The law requires international internet companies to report to the Vietnamese government every six months and provide them with information about individual bloggers if requested. Prior to the introduction of these laws, some bloggers were already writing using pseudonyms and posting from different computers in attempts to avoid being identified.57

In January 2011, an executive decree provided for further monetary penalties for journalists who refused to divulge their sources, or who published under pseudonyms. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), these provisions in the decree were aimed directly at Vietnam‟s blogosphere, “where many bloggers publish under pseudonyms to avoid possible government reprisals”. Protections afforded to government-affiliated journalists under the decree, for example against unlawful seizure of property, do not extend to bloggers.58

Sources report that the government has censored some websites. According to Reporters Without Borders, spyware is used to steal identification and password details from opposition website administrators. Other “cyber attacks” effectively put sites out of service by flooding them with traffic. Over one thousand sites were affected in this way during 2009, and the number is thought to have increased tenfold in 2010. In May 2010, the Deputy Director, Public Security Ministry, reportedly announced that the ministry‟s technical departments had “destroyed 300 internet web pages and blogs posting unsuitable contents”.59 Freedom House has reported that, although it did not acknowledge doing so, the government began blocking Facebook in September 2009. Facebook users in Vietnam at the time numbered around 1 million.60 CPJ further reports that in June 2010, the government ordered that public

54 „Vietnam country profile‟ 2011, BBC News, 7 February http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia- pacific/country_profiles/1243338.stm – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 27 55 Binlot, A. 2008, „Vietnam‟s Bloggers Face Government Crackdown‟ 2008, Time, 30 December http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1869130,00.html – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 28 56 Freedom House 2011, Freedom on the Net 2011 – Vietnam, 18 April, p. 5 – Attachment 26 57 Binlot, A. 2008, „Vietnam‟s Bloggers Face Government Crackdown‟ 2008, Time, 30 December http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1869130,00.html – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 28 58 Committee to Protect Journalists 2011, „Concern as Vietnam plays „national security‟ censorship card‟, Committee to Protect Journalists website, 13 January http://www.cpj.org/2011/01/concern-as-vietnam-plays-national-security- censors.php – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 29 59 „Internet Enemies – Vietnam‟ (Undated), Reporters Without Borders website http://en.rsf.org/internet-enemie- vietnam,39763.html – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 30 60 Freedom House 2011, Freedom on the Net 2011 – Vietnam, 18 April, p. 6 – Attachment 26

Page 7 of 18 computers in be fitted with monitoring software.61 The US Department of State reports that internet cafés are required to register the details of customers, and keep records of sites visited. All internet service providers are state-owned, and the government also reportedly monitors email.62

6. To what extent have the authorities targeted bloggers?

Sources report that well-known bloggers, who post articles on topics considered sensitive by Vietnam‟s one-party government, have been charged and sentenced, sometimes under the pretext of national security. Others have been detained and later released, or censored.

In July 2011, the CPJ reported that at least four political bloggers were imprisoned.63 One of the four mentioned by CPJ, French-Canadian citizen Pham Minh Hoang, has since been found guilty of attempting to overthrow the government, and sentenced to three years in a Vietnamese prison. Mr Hoang had reportedly posted 33 blog articles,64 under a pseudonym, which were critical of issues such as Chinese involvement in bauxite mining in northern Vietnam.65 He was also found guilty of holding Viet Tan membership and recruiting others to join the organisation.66

In April 2011, online commentator Vi Duc Hoi was given a five year prison sentence for publishing six online articles which were deemed to be critical of government. The six articles were reportedly published in 2006 and 2007,67 prior to the introduction of the 2008 laws governing cyberspace mentioned in the response to Question 5.

Another imprisoned blogger, Nguyen Van Hai, has been detained since April 2008, after posting articles on protests against China, and calling for a boycott of the Beijing Olympic torch when it passed through .68 Hai was convicted of tax evasion, although sources state that his critical posts were suspected to be the real reason for his sentencing. Hai‟s trial was closed door, and was not allowed to choose his own defense team.69 His

61 Committee to Protect Journalists 2011, „Attacks on the Press 2010 – Vietnam‟, Committee to Protect Journalists website 15 February http://www.cpj.org/2011/02/attacks-on-the-press-2010-vietnam.php – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 31 62 US Department of State 2011, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010 – Vietnam, 8 April Section 2(a) – Attachment 32 63 Committee to Protect Journalists 2011, „Concerns rise about jailed Vietnamese blogger‟, Committee to Protect Journalists website, 27 July http://www.cpj.org/2011/07/concerns-rise-about-jailed-vietnamese-blogger.php – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 33 64 „Vietnam blogger jailed for attempted subversion‟ 2011, The Guardian UK, 10 August http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/10/vietnam-blogger-jailed – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 34 65 Reporters Without Borders 2011, „Letter to prime minister requesting blogger Pham Minh Hoang‟s release‟, UNHCR Refworld website, 8 August http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4e40eb4d2.html – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 35 66 „Vietnam blogger jailed for attempted subversion‟ 2011, The Guardian UK, 10 August http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/10/vietnam-blogger-jailed – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 34 67 Committee to Protect Journalists 2011, „Online commentator receives harsh sentence in Vietnam‟, Committee to Protect Journalists website http://www.cpj.org/2011/04/online-commentator-receives-harsh-sentence-in-viet.php – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 36 68 Committee to Protect Journalists 2011, „Concerns rise about jailed Vietnamese blogger‟, Committee to Protect Journalists website, 27 July http://www.cpj.org/2011/07/concerns-rise-about-jailed-vietnamese-blogger.php – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 33 69 Committee to Protect Journalists 2008, „Critical blogger given 30 months in prison‟ Committee to Protect Journalists website, 11 September http://www.cpj.org/2008/09/critical-blogger-given-30-months-in-prison.php – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 37

Page 8 of 18 family has been denied visitation rights since October 2010, when his official sentence expired. It is suspected that he may have lost a limb whilst in custody.70

Other political bloggers have been detained and later released. For example, a former policewoman and blogger who writes on topics of corruption and injustice was repeatedly arrested in 2010.71 In September 2009, three bloggers who published criticism of China‟s claims of sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea were arrested. Radio Free Asia reported that one of the three, described as a “well-known” blogger who was detained for ten days, agreed to stop blogging in exchange for her release.72

Additionally, the US Department of State (USDOS) reported that journalists who maintain professional blogs, which are often seen as controversial, have been fined or “punished” in a few instances over their blogs‟ contents.73 CPJ states that the government cracked down on journalistic bloggers in 2010:

“Vietnam targeted online journalists in a clampdown on dissent ahead of a 2011 Communist Party Congress at which top government appointments and policies were to be determined At least five journalistic bloggers were among dozens of activists arrested on national security-related charges, including “spreading propaganda against the state” and “abusing democratic freedoms.”74

In August 2009, journalist Huy Duc, who published a blog under a pseudonym, was dismissed from employment with a government newspaper after posting an entry critical of the Soviet Union.75 76

More widely, political blogs appear to be targeted for censorship. The response to Question 3 notes that cyber attacks often flood sites with traffic, thus rendering them virtually inaccessible.77 Dissident blogs and websites written in Vietnamese have suffered widespread hacking.78 Sites voicing opposition to bauxite mining in Vietnam appear to be targeted. Internet company McAfee has reportedly argued that such attacks are sophisticated, and the perpetrators may have some allegiance to the Vietnamese government.79

70 Committee to Protect Journalists 2011, „Concerns rise about jailed Vietnamese blogger‟, Committee to Protect Journalists website, 27 July http://www.cpj.org/2011/07/concerns-rise-about-jailed-vietnamese-blogger.php – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 33 71 2010, Stop Cyber Attacks Against Online Critics, Human Rights Watch website, 26 May – Attachment 38 72 Radio Free Asia 2009, „Vietnam: Closing blog was „painful‟‟, UNHCR Refworld website, 16 September http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4ab9c9dec.html – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 39 73US Department of State 2011, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010 – Vietnam, 8 April Section 2(a) – Attachment 32 74 Committee to Protect Journalists 2011, „Attacks on the Press 2010 – Vietnam‟, Committee to Protect Journalists website 15 February http://www.cpj.org/2011/02/attacks-on-the-press-2010-vietnam.php – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 31 75 „Popular Vietnamese blogger fired by newspaper‟ 2009, The Philippine Star, 27 August http://www.philstar.com/microsite/college-hoops-2010/uaap-season- 73/article.aspx?articleId=499858&publicationSubCategoryId=200 – Accessed 15 August 2011 – Attachment 40 76 Reporters Without Borders 2009, „Newspaper dismisses reporter over blog entry critical of Soviet Union‟, 31 August, UNHCR Refworld website, 31 August http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4a9f78331e.html – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 41 77 „Internet Enemies – Vietnam‟ (Undated), Reporters Without Borders website http://en.rsf.org/internet-enemie- vietnam,39763.html – Accessed 10 August 2011 – Attachment 30 78 Amnesty International 2011, Annual Report 2011, 13 May, p. 352 – Attachment 42 79 Freedom House 2011, Freedom on the Net 2011 – Vietnam, 18 April, p. 9 – Attachment 26

Page 9 of 18 7. Please provide any available information on attempts to form a farmers’ union in Vietnam in 2005, any rally associated with this and the response by the Vietnamese authorities to this.

No reports were located describing a public rally which called for the establishment of an independent farmers‟ union being held during 2005.

However, the USDOS reported that, throughout 2005, small public protests of farmers seeking redress for land rights issues “frequently took place in front of government buildings in Hanoi”. These protests were monitored but not disrupted or dispersed by police.80 In Vietnam unions are approved by, and affiliated with, the state.81 The first two independent trade unions were established in October 2006: one was the United Worker-Farmers Organisation of Vietnam (UWFO).82 UWFO was banned and its leaders arrested from November 2006.83 In December 2007, four of the UFWO‟s leaders were sentenced to between 18 months and four-and-a-half years for “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state”. 84

One source refers to the UFWO as the “Peasants and Workers Solidarity Association”.85

8. Please provide information on the treatment by the authorities of those active in Viet Tan or the Vietnam Progression Party.

There are reports of active members of the Viet Tan and the Vietnam Progression Party being arrested by police and, in some cases, imprisoned for actions considered to be against the state.86

The Viet Tan claims to seek democracy in Vietnam through non-violent means. However, the Vietnamese authorities and media have reportedly labelled it a “terrorist organisation”.87 88 89 One source stated that it was unclear when exactly the authorities had designated Viet Tan as

80 US Department of State 2006, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005 – Vietnam, 8 March Section 2(b) – Attachment 43 81 International Trade Union Confederation 2010, „2010 Annual Survey of violations of trade union rights – Vietnam‟, UNHCR Refworld website, 9 June http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4c4fec4e3b0.html – accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 44 82 Human Rights Watch 2009, Not Yet a Workers’ Paradise – Vietnam’s Suppression of the Independent Workers’ Movement, May, p. 6 – http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/vietnam0509web.pdf – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 45 83 Freedom House 2010, Countries at the Crossroads 2010 – Vietnam, Freedom House website http://freedomhouse.org/uploads/ccr/country-7949-9.pdf – Accessed 31 January 2011 Attachment 22 84 Human Rights Watch 2009, Not Yet a Workers’ Paradise – Vietnam’s Suppression of the Independent Workers’ Movement, May, p. 9 – http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/vietnam0509web.pdf – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 45 85 Que, N. D. 2007, „Vietnamese Rights and Wrongs…‟, The Wall Street Journal, 20 June – Attachment 46 86 Crispin, S. 2008, „Democratic pebble in Vietnam‟s shoe‟, Asia Times, 18 January – Attachment 4 87 Thayer, C. 2009, „Vietnam and the Challenge of Political Civil Society‟, Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, Vol. 31, No. 1, p. 17 http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/contemporary_southeast_asia_a_journal_of_international_and_strategic_affairs/v031/31 .1.thayer.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 2 88 Crispin, S. 2008, „Democratic pebble in Vietnam‟s shoe‟, Asia Times, 18 January – Attachment 4 89 „Vietnam – Daring to Speak Out‟ 2003, Foreign Correspondent, 28 October http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/stories/s977284.htm – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 1

Page 10 of 18 a terrorist organisation, or under what legislation.90 Suffice to say that, according to Human Rights Watch‟s latest annual report, Viet Tan is a banned organisation.91

Viet Tan members have been arrested for pro-democracy activities. It appears that the Viet Tan, operating as an underground movement, was largely ignored by authorities until around early 2007. The Asia Times reported that, in May 2007, three Viet Tan members were charged with terrorism and threatening national security for planning to distribute leaflets about their party. The three were sentenced, in a Ho Chi Minh court, to up to nine months‟ imprisonment.92 Human Rights Watch reported that, in July and August 2010, three land rights petitioners who were also Viet Tan members were arrested and charged with subversion.93

Foreign nationals associated with the Viet Tan have also received adverse attention from authorities. In October 2010, an Australian Viet Tan member was arrested after participating in a public demonstration regarding Vietnam‟s long-running territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea. The Australian woman reportedly wore a t-shirt and hat with pictures marking the disputed territory, handed out leaflets which stated that China was a threat to Vietnam, and spoke to foreign reporters. Three other Viet Tan Members were arrested in 2010, for political activities. One of them, Pham Minh Hoang, is a French-Vietnamese citizen.94 As mentioned in the response to Question 6, Hoang has been sentenced to three years in prison for holding Viet Tan membership and recruiting others to join, as well as for attempted subversion after posting 33 blog articles.95 In November 2007, a group of Viet Tan members who distributed fliers calling for non-violent democratic change were arrested and detained. The group included six foreign nationals, who were citizens of the United States of America, France and Thailand.96

The Vietnam Progression Party is also reportedly considered illegal.97 As discussed in the response to Question 2, there are few reports on the VPP dated later than 2007, when it merged with another small pro-democracy group. However, sources do report that, also in February 2007, the VPP‟s founders were detained and questioned for several days. Father Van Ly was questioned as one of the group‟s founding members during this process, and his office was reportedly raided.98 Human Rights Watch reported on further VPP arrests in February and March 2007:

90 Thayer, C. 2009, „Vietnam and the Challenge of Political Civil Society‟, Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, Vol. 31, No. 1, p. 17 http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/contemporary_southeast_asia_a_journal_of_international_and_strategic_affairs/v031/31 .1.thayer.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 2 91 Human Rights Watch 2011, World Report 2011 – Vietnam, 24 January – Attachment 47 92 Crispin, S. 2008, „Democratic pebble in Vietnam‟s shoe‟, Asia Times, 18 January – Attachment 4 93 Human Rights Watch 2011, World Report 2011 – Vietnam, 24 January – Attachment 47 94 „Australian arrested over Vietnam protest: opposition group‟ 2010, ABC News, October 12 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-10-12/australian-arrested-over-vietnam-protest/2293714 – Accessed 11 August 2011 – Attachment 3 95 „Vietnam blogger jailed for attempted subversion‟ 2011, The Guardian UK, 10 August http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/10/vietnam-blogger-jailed – Accessed 11 August 2011 –Attachment 34 96 Crispin, S. 2008, „Democratic pebble in Vietnam‟s shoe‟, Asia Times, 18 January –Attachment 4 97 Cotton, J. & Pohlman, A. 2011, „The Responsibility to Protect in Vietnam: Challenges, Opportunities and Cases for Implementation‟, Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, University of Queensland website, 28 May p. 32 – http://www.r2pasiapacific.org/documents/VietNam_Final_Report.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 48 98 Hayton, B. 2007,‟Vietnam dissident priest detained‟, BBC News, 24 February http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia- pacific/6393975.stm – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 15

Page 11 of 18  An activist lawyer and VPP spokesperson was arrested in March 2007, and given a three year hard labour sentence for subversion. In early 2008, the spokesperson went on a hunger strike in protest against “an apparent pattern of deliberate harassment by her cellmates”.

 The VPP Secretary was arrested in February 2007 and given a two year suspended sentence for conducting anti-state propaganda.

 A VPP member was arrested in February 2007 and given an 18 month suspended sentence for conducting anti-state propaganda.99

9. Please provide information on the treatment of pro-democracy advocates by the authorities.

Academic Carlyle Thayer stated in 2009 that Vietnam‟s treatment of pro-democracy advocates was routinely poor:

[Vietnam‟s] default position when confronted by political dissidents demanding multiparty democracy has been outright repression. Political dissidents are routinely harassed, vilified in the media, sacked from employment, summarily tried in court and imprisoned in harsh conditions.100

Article 88 in Vietnam‟s penal code criminalises “conducting propaganda against the state”, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.101 Propaganda charges, and subversion charges related to pro-democracy publications, have been used against members of the Viet Tan,102 VPP103, and other pro-democracy advocates. For example, Human Rights Watch reported that the government cracked down on political dissidents throughout 2010, ahead of a Communist Party congress scheduled for January 2011. Activists linked to banned political parties were sentenced to prison on subversion charges. Others were arrested for distributing anti-government leaflets in Tra Vinh province. One man was originally arrested after attempting to attend the trials of fellow dissidents, and later sentenced on allegedly trumped up assault charges.104 In 2009, a group of dissidents known as the „Haiphong Six‟ were charged under Article 88 after hanging banners in Haiphong and Hai Duong which called for democracy and criticised the

99 Human Rights Watch 2008, „Woman writer released but crackdown continues‟, Human Rights Watch website, 1 February – Attachment 49 100 Thayer, C. 2009, „Political Legitimacy of Vietnam‟s One Party State: Challenges and Responses‟, Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, Vol. 4, p. 63 http://viet- studies.info/kinhte/Thayer_Political_Legitimacy_JCSEA.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 50 101 Human Rights Watch 2009, „Free Prominent Rights Lawyer Le Cong Dinh‟, 16 June http://www.hrw.org/news/2009/06/23/vietnam-free-prominent-rights-lawyer-le-cong-dinh – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 51 102 „Vietnam blogger jailed for attempted subversion‟ 2011, The Guardian UK, 10 August http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/10/vietnam-blogger-jailed – Accessed 11 August 2011 –Attachment 34 103 Human Rights Watch 2008, Woman writer released but crackdown continues, Human Rights Watch website, 1 February – Attachment 49 104 Human Rights Watch 2011, World Report 2011 – Vietnam, 24 January – Attachment 47

Page 12 of 18 Communist Party. The six were sentenced to various prison terms between three and six years.105

One of the Haiphong six was reportedly beaten in police custody. 106 In May 2010, another activist associated with the Bloc 8406 movement was allegedly beaten by police officers both as she was arrested and during interrogation.107 Another dissident arrested for hanging an anti-government banner in 2008 was reportedly beaten, repeatedly, whilst in custody. 108

The USDOS reports that lawyers are pressured by authorities not to take on pro-democracy advocates facing trial. Several lawyers who took such cases in 2010 were harassed, arrested, and occasionally disbarred.109 On 2 August 2011, Vietnam‟s Supreme Court upheld a seven year sentence for human rights legal expert and government critic Mr Cu Huy Ha Vu, under Article 88. Ha Vu is known for having initiated two lawsuits against the Prime Minister; one of which was regarding the signing of a government decree which prohibits class action petitions.110

Please refer to the responses to Questions 6 and 8 for further information regarding the authorities‟ treatment of bloggers and Viet Tan/VPP members.

10. What is the attitude of the Vietnamese authorities to people who travel overseas to Western countries?

No reports were located regarding attitudes of Vietnamese authorities towards people who travel temporarily to Western countries. Sources located either discussed the issue in terms of attitudes towards Vietnamese emigrants, or towards political dissidents.

The USDOS has reported that the Vietnamese government has generally treated overseas Vietnamese as citizens of their adopted countries. Dual citizenship was legalised in 2008. Prospective emigrants from Vietnam occasionally have difficulties in obtaining a passport. Foreign investment and visits from overseas Vietnamese are generally permitted111; state television has produced a show aimed at encouraging members of the diaspora to return.112 However, the government reportedly sometimes monitors such visitors carefully. Members of

105 Thayer, C. 2009, „Political Legitimacy of Vietnam‟s One Party State: Challenges and Responses‟, Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, Vol. 4, p. 58-59 http://viet- studies.info/kinhte/Thayer_Political_Legitimacy_JCSEA.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 50 106 Thayer, C. 2009, „Political Legitimacy of Vietnam‟s One Party State: Challenges and Responses‟, Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, Vol. 4, p. 59 http://viet- studies.info/kinhte/Thayer_Political_Legitimacy_JCSEA.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011 –Attachment 50 107 Human Rights Watch 2010, Stop Cyber Attacks Against Online Critics, 26 May – Attachment 38 108 Thayer, C. 2009, „Political Legitimacy of Vietnam‟s One Party State: Challenges and Responses‟, Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, Vol. 4, p. 63 http://viet- studies.info/kinhte/Thayer_Political_Legitimacy_JCSEA.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 50 109 US Department of State 2011, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010 – Vietnam, 8 April Section 1(e) – Attachment 32 110 „Human rights defender Cu Huy Ha Vu‟s sentence upheld in appeal‟, International Federation for Human Rights website, 3 August http://www.fidh.org/Human-rights-defender-Cu-Huy-Ha-Vu – Accessed 17 August 2011 – Attachment 52 111 US Department of State 2011, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010 – Vietnam, 8 April Section 2(d) – Attachment 32 112 US Departmernt of State 2011, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010 – Vietnam, 8 April Section 2(a) – Attachment 32

Page 13 of 18 the Vietnamese diaspora who do not hold Vietnamese passports are able to petition the government requesting one.113

The USDOS further reported that the government has refused to allow some political activists living abroad to visit Vietnam. Some have been denied entrance visas, and others have been detained and deported after entering Vietnam.114 In 2005, the Refugee Review Tribunal received advice that Vietnamese who had been involved in “anti-regime activities overseas” were highly likely to be interviewed by security officials upon their return. The advice distinguished between “anti-regime activity” and expressing “critical views”: only those who undertake the former are likely to be detained and interviewed. Government officials posted in diplomatic missions, and members of the Vietnamese Communist Party living overseas, have been known to monitor and report to the government on other overseas Vietnamese. Party members are often asked to report on overseas Vietnamese students.115

Attachments

1. „Vietnam – Daring to Speak Out‟ 2003, Foreign Correspondent, 28 October http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/stories/s977284.htm – Accessed 11 August 2011.

2. Thayer, C. 2009, „Vietnam and the Challenge of Political Civil Society‟, Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, Vol. 31, No. 1, p. 1-27

113 US Department of State 2011, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010 – Vietnam, 8 April Section 2(d) – Attachment 32 114 US Department of State 2011, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010 – Vietnam, 8 April Section 2(d) – Attachment 32 115 Thayer, C. 2005, „Comments for the Australian Refugee Review Tribunal‟, 17 March – Attachment 53

Page 14 of 18 http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/contemporary_southeast_asia_a_journal_of_international_and_st rategic_affairs/v031/31.1.thayer.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011.

3. „Australian arrested over Vietnam protest: opposition group‟ 2010, ABC News, 12 October http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-10-12/australian-arrested-over-vietnam-protest/2293714 – Accessed 11 August 2011.

4. Crispin, S. 2008, „Democratic pebble in Vietnam‟s shoe‟, Asia Times, 18 January. (CISNET Vietnam CX191708)

5. „Why Viet Tan‟ (undated), Viet Tan website http://viettan.org/spip.php?article9226 – Accessed 11 August 2011.

6. „Who We Are‟ (undated), Viet Tan website, http://viettan.org/spip.php?article9230 – Accessed 11 August 2011.

7. „How to Get Involved‟ (undated), Viet Tan website http://viettan.org/spip.php?article9229 – Accessed 11 August 2011.

8. „Current Campaigns‟ (undated), Viet Tan website, http://viettan.org/spip.php?article9228 – Accessed 11 August 2011.

9. „Father Ly‟s Biography‟ 2007, **FREE** Father Nguyễn Văn Lý website, 1 March http://fathernguyenvanly.blogspot.com/2007/03/father-lys-biography.html – Accessed 11 August 2011.

10. Thayer, C. A. 2008, „One-Party Rule and the Challenge of Political Civil Society in Vietnam‟, Viet Tan website, 3 December http://www.viettan.org/IMG/pdf/Civil_Society_in_Vietnam_-_Carlyle_Thayer.pdf – Accessed 1 April 2011.

11. US Commission on International Religious Freedom 2008, Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, May.

12. United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention 2009, „Opinion No. 14/2010 (Socialist Republic of Vietnam)‟, Amnesty International Volunteers USA website, 29 May http://www.amnesty-volunteer.org/usa/group19/Working-Group-Opinion-3-September- 2010.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011.

13. Grinter, L. E. 2007, „Vietnam‟s Security Challenges: Dilemmas of Reform Communism‟, Southeast Review of Asian Studies, Vol. 29 http://www.uky.edu/Centers/Asia/SECAAS/Seras/2007/06_Grinter_2007.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011. 14. Thayer, C. A. 2009, „Challenges to the Legitimacy of Vietnam‟s One Party State‟, Paper presented to the international workshop on ‘The Search for Legitimacy: Managing the Consequences of Asian Development,’ Singapore July.

15. Hayton, B. 2007,‟Vietnam dissident priest detained‟, BBC News, 24 February http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6393975.stm – Accessed 17 August 2011.

16. „Call to Boycott Against the Election of the 13th Communist Assembly‟ 2011, thangtienmtp.wordpress.com website, 22 April http://thangtienmtp.wordpress.com/english/ – Accessed 17 august 2011.

Page 15 of 18 17. „Manifesto on Freedom and Democracy for Vietnam in 2006‟ 2011, thangtienmtp.wordpress.com website, 13 May http://thangtieneng.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/hello-world/ – Accessed 17 August 2011.

18. „U.S. Protests Treatment of Diplomat in Vietnam‟ 2011, The Wall Street Journal, 6 January http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704405704576064832396257142.html – Accessed 11 August 2011.

19. „Father Ly arrested despite poor health‟ 2011, Christian Solidarity Worldwide - USA, 28 July http://www.cswusa.com/Vietnam.ihtml?id=630080 – Accessed 15 August 2011.

20. „Fr Nguyen Van Ly released, handed over to the diocese of Hue‟ 2010, Asia News.it website, 15 March http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Fr-Nguyen-Van-Ly-released,-handed-over-to-the- diocese-of-Hue-17891.html – Accessed 11 August 2011.

21. US Department of State 2004, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003 – Vietnam, 25 February. 22. Freedom House 2010, Countries at the Crossroads 2010 – Vietnam, Freedom House website http://freedomhouse.org/uploads/ccr/country-7949-9.pdf – Accessed 31 January 2011.

23. „Father Nguyen Van Ly‟ (undated), PEN International website http://pen.org.au/about- us/honorary-members/bio/nguyen-van-ly/ – Accessed 11 August 2011.

24. „Vietnam under pressure to release jailed priest‟ 2011, Agence France Presse, 26 July http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jKT96BHMDVfkAlxiEOjgadSj0ftw ?docId=CNG.a18f8f3a800f1e93dbfd0e596f0760d6.f31 – Accessed 11 August 2011.

25. Deleted.

26. Freedom House 2011, Freedom on the Net 2011 – Vietnam, 18 April.

27. „Vietnam country profile‟ 2011, BBC News, 7 February http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia- pacific/country_profiles/1243338.stm – Accessed 10 August 2011.

28. Binlot, A. 2008, „Vietnam‟s Bloggers Face Government Crackdown‟ 2008, Time, 30 December http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1869130,00.html – Accessed 10 August 2011.

29. Committee to Protect Journalists 2011, „Concern as Vietnam plays „national security‟ censorship card‟, Committee to Protect Journalists website http://www.cpj.org/2011/01/concern-as-vietnam-plays-national-security-censors.php – Accessed 11 August 2011.

30. „Internet Enemies – Vietnam‟ (Undated), Reporters Without Borders website http://en.rsf.org/internet-enemie-vietnam,39763.html – Accessed 10 August 2011.

31. Committee to Protect Journalists 2011, „Attacks on the Press 2010 – Vietnam‟, Committee to Protect Journalists website, 15 February http://www.cpj.org/2011/02/attacks-on-the-press- 2010-vietnam.php – Accessed 10 August 2011.

32. US Department of State 2011, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010 – Vietnam, 8 April.

Page 16 of 18 33. Committee to Protect Journalists 2011, „Concerns rise about jailed Vietnamese blogger‟, Committee to Protect Journalists website, 27 July http://www.cpj.org/2011/07/concerns-rise- about-jailed-vietnamese-blogger.php – Accessed 10 August 2011.

34. „Vietnam blogger jailed for attempted subversion‟ 2011, The Guardian UK, 10 August http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/10/vietnam-blogger-jailed – Accessed 11 August 2011.

35. Reporters Without Borders 2011, „Letter to prime minister requesting blogger Pham Minh Hoang‟s release‟, UNHCR Refworld website, 8 August http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4e40eb4d2.html – Accessed 10 August 2011.

36. Committee to Protect Journalists 2011, „Online commentator receives harsh sentence in Vietnam‟, Committee to Protect Journalists website http://www.cpj.org/2011/04/online- commentator-receives-harsh-sentence-in-viet.php – Accessed 10 August 2011.

37. Committee to Protect Journalists 2008, „Critical blogger given 30 months in prison‟ Committee to Protect Journalists website, 11 September http://www.cpj.org/2008/09/critical- blogger-given-30-months-in-prison.php – Accessed 10 August 2011.

38. Human Rights Watch 2010, Stop Cyber Attacks Against Online Critics, Human Rights Watch website, 26 May. (CISNET Vietnam CX244179)

39. Radio Free Asia 2009, „Vietnam: Closing blog was „painful‟‟, UNHCR Refworld website, 16 September http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4ab9c9dec.html – Accessed 10 August 2011.

40. „Popular Vietnamese blogger fired by newspaper‟ 2009, The Philippine Star, 27 August http://www.philstar.com/microsite/college-hoops-2010/uaap-season- 73/article.aspx?articleId=499858&publicationSubCategoryId=200 – Accessed 15 August 2011.

41. Reporters Without Borders 2009, „Newspaper dismisses reporter over blog entry critical of Soviet Union‟, 31 August, UNHCR Refworld website, 31 August http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4a9f78331e.html – Accessed 10 August 2011.

42. Amnesty International 2011, Annual Report 2011, 13 May.

43. US Department of State 2006, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005 – Vietnam, 8 March.

44. International Trade Union Confederation 2010, „2010 Annual Survey of violations of trade union rights – Vietnam‟, UNHCR Refworld website, 9 June http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4c4fec4e3b0.html – Accessed 11 August 2011.

45. Human Rights Watch 2009, Not Yet a Workers’ Paradise – Vietnam’s Suppression of the Independent Workers’ Movement, May http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/vietnam0509web.pdf – Accessed 11 August 2011.

46. Que, N. D. 2007, „Vietnamese Rights and Wrongs…‟, The Wall Street Journal, 20 June. (FACTIVA)

47. Human Rights Watch 2011, World Report 2011 – Vietnam, 24 January.

Page 17 of 18 48. Cotton, J. & Pohlman, A. 2011, „The Responsibility to Protect in Vietnam: Challenges, Opportunities and Cases for Implementation‟, Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, University of Queensland website, 28 May http://www.r2pasiapacific.org/documents/VietNam_Final_Report.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011.

49. Human Rights Watch 2008, Woman writer released but crackdown continues, Human Rights Watch website, 1 February. (CISNET Vietnam CX192896)

50. Thayer, C. 2009, „Political Legitimacy of Vietnam‟s One Party State: Challenges and Responses‟, Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, Vol. 4, p. 47-70 http://viet- studies.info/kinhte/Thayer_Political_Legitimacy_JCSEA.pdf – Accessed 17 August 2011.

51. Human Rights Watch 2009, „Free Prominent Rights Lawyer Le Cong Dinh‟, 16 June http://www.hrw.org/news/2009/06/23/vietnam-free-prominent-rights-lawyer-le-cong-dinh – Accessed 17 August 2011.

52. „Human rights defender Cu Huy Ha Vu‟s sentence upheld in appeal‟, International Federation for Human Rights website, 3 August http://www.fidh.org/Human-rights-defender-Cu-Huy- Ha-Vu – Accessed 17 August 2011.

53. Thayer, C. 2005, „Comments for the Australian Refugee Review Tribunal‟, 17 March.

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