DOCSLIB.ORG

Country Advice

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Country Advice Country Advice Vietnam Vietnam – VNM39416 – Vietnam Populist Party (VPP) – Attitude of Vietnamese Government to VPP members – Treatment of anti-government activists returning to Vietnam 24 October 2011 1. Please provide general information on the Vietnam Populist Party. The Vietnam Populist Party (VPP1), in Vietnamese Đảng Vì Dân Việt Nam, is a pro- democracy political organisation based in the USA. The name of the party is also transliterated as the „For the People‟s Party‟ (FPP). The VPP is one of a number of Vietnam- focused pro-democracy groups that have formed in Vietnam and abroad in the last decade. Carlyle Thayer2 opines that although many of these organisations refer to themselves as „parties‟, the description is problematic as they lacked structure and a geographically diverse membership.3 General information about the VPP The VPP was formed in Houston in 20064 following the merging of five pro-democracy groups under the leadership of Nguyen Cong Bang (Nguyen).5 Following its formation, the party released the New Vietnam Platform calling for “fair and free” elections in Vietnam. The group‟s public base remains in Houston, USA under Nguyen‟s direction. The VPP‟s strength, in Vietnam, including membership numbers, is difficult to measure, particularly as the VPP declines to provide information on its membership or structure citing security concerns.6 Details on the VPP‟s policies and beliefs is limited and mostly restricted to information provided by the VPP7 and associated websites maintained by the party and/or Nguyen. The 1 The party is also abbreviated as VNPP, FPP, PPP and DVD. 2 Carlyle A. Thayer is Professor of Politics, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University College, University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. 3 Thayer, C.A. 2009, „Vietnam and the Challenge of Political Civil Society‟, Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, Volume 31, Number 1, April, https://muse.jhu.edu/journals/contemporary_southeast_asia_a_journal_of_international_and_strategic_affairs/v031/3 1.1.thayer.pdf - Accessed 24 October 2011 4 „Introduction of the Vietnam Populist Party‟ (undated), Vietnam Populist Party website, http://www.vnpp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=118 - Accessed 24 October 2011 5 Thayer, C.A. 2009, „Vietnam and the Challenge of Political Civil Society‟, Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, Volume 31, Number 1, April, https://muse.jhu.edu/journals/contemporary_southeast_asia_a_journal_of_international_and_strategic_affairs/v031/3 1.1.thayer.pdf - Accessed 24 October 2011 6 „Introduction of the Vietnam Populist Party‟ (undated), Vietnam Populist Party website, http://www.vnpp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=118 - Accessed 24 October 2011 7 The VPP‟s full platform is available at http://www.vnpp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=51&Itemid=40 Page 1 of 9 VPP‟s own website claims that the party is a grassroots political organisation mainly active in Vietnam.8 The party declares that its immediate goal is “a fair and free general election in Vietnam” under international supervision in order to create a multi-party democracy in Vietnam.9 The VPP advocates a non-violent campaign for “democracy, freedoms, social justice, and welfare for the poor.”10 Information on VPP activities in Vietnam is limited to reports on the arrest of VPP members and sympathisers. The party itself appears to operate on a clandestine basis in Vietnam noting on its website that “[d]ue to security reasons, VNPP‟s Coordinating Committee has withheld the names and locations of most of its officers [in Vietnam]”.11 It is noted that Nguyen has advocated a policy of retaining a low profile in Vietnam since at least the mid-2000s. In 2005 Nguyen advised the UWFA (United Workers - Farmers Association) not to take a proactive stance that would “invite repression and dampen recruitment.”12 The website further claims that the “formal leadership establishment of the organization is pending upon a party convention that is expected to be organized in Vietnam, when it becomes possible.”13 The VPP maintains a website in Vietnamese and English and also operates a radio station, Radio Hoa-Mai, to disseminate its views. Radio Hoa-Mai is based in southern California, however, it broadcasts to Vietnam using short wave radio twice weekly and programmes are available for download from the internet. History The VPP was formed by Vietnamese exiles based in the US city of Houston in early 2006 under the leadership of Nguyen Cong Bang.14 Information on Nguyen‟s background could only be found on the VPP website. Nguyen claims to have been born in South Vietnam in 1955 and to have fought for the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam).15 After being interned at a labour camp, Nguyen escaped and settled in the USA. Nguyen was involved with several pro-democracy groups during the 1980s and 1990s and in 1998 joined the 8 „Introduction of the Vietnam Populist Party‟ (undated), Vietnam Populist Party website, http://www.vnpp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=118 - Accessed 24 October 2011 9 „Introduction of the Vietnam Populist Party‟ (undated), Vietnam Populist Party website, http://www.vnpp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=118 - Accessed 24 October 2011 10 „General Policy of the VNPP‟ (undated), Vietnam Populist Party website, http://www.vnpp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14:general-policy&catid=24:general- policy&Itemid=39 - Accessed 24 October 2011 11 „Introduction of the Vietnam Populist Party‟ (undated), Vietnam Populist Party website, http://www.vnpp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=118 - Accessed 24 October 2011 12 Thayer, C.A. 2009, „Vietnam and the Challenge of Political Civil Society‟, Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, Volume 31, Number 1, April, p.12 https://muse.jhu.edu/journals/contemporary_southeast_asia_a_journal_of_international_and_strategic_affairs/v031/3 1.1.thayer.pdf - Accessed 24 October 2011 13 „Introduction of the Vietnam Populist Party‟ (undated), Vietnam Populist Party website, http://www.vnpp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=118 - Accessed 24 October 2011 14 „Introduction of the Vietnam Populist Party‟ (undated), Vietnam Populist Party website, http://www.vnpp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=118 - Accessed 24 October 2011 15 „Biography of the Secretary General of the VNPP‟ (undated), Vietnam Populist Party website, http://www.vnpp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=60 - Accessed 24 October 2011 Page 2 of 9 Vietnam Coalition Party. Nguyen claims to have left this group in March 2004 over (unspecified) disagreements on policy before forming the VPP in 2006.16 In February 2007 the VPP joined with the Vietnamese Progression Party17 (VNPP) to form the Lac-Hong Coalition.18 A contemporary report from the BBC stated that support for both parties in Vietnam was limited to a “core of democracy activists in the country‟s main cities.”19 The precise nature of this „merger‟ was not reported by sources consulted, nor is the level of continued cooperation between the two groups. The VPP continues to maintain its own website and on that basis would appear to maintain a separate existence as a political party. Current Status Source information on the current status of the VPP is restricted to the VNPP website and reports on the arrest of VPP members in Vietnam. No independently verifiable information could be located indicating what, if any, activities are being undertaken by the VPP in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Government has made claims that the VPP has paid members to undertake terrorist activities including bombings. No information on membership numbers within Vietnam or the USA could be located. Information on members of the VPP is restricted to its website and NGO/press reports of individuals arrested by the Vietnamese Government and accused of being VPP members or sympathisers. Contact information details for the party (e.g. phone numbers, postal addresses) are based in Houston, USA. 2. What is the Vietnam government’s attitude towards the VPP, and in particular are members of the VPP subject to harassment etc. from the government? Sources were located detailing harassment, in the form of prosecutions, of VPP members since its 2006 formation. In many cases gaoled dissidents were members of multiple pro- democracy groups or in some instances, different sources claimed that the dissidents belonged to different groups. These sources variously refer to the Vietnam Populist Party (VPP or VNPP) or the For the People Party (FPP). For clarity, VPP20 is used below. Prominent cases of VPP members being prosecuted include: In July 2010 Nguyen Thanh Tam was arrested under Article 79 of the Vietnamese Criminal Code (VCC) for activities aiming to overthrow the socialist government.21 16 „Biography of the Secretary General of the VNPP‟ (undated), Vietnam Populist Party website, http://www.vnpp.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=60 - Accessed 24 October 2011 17 The Vietnamese Progression Party (Dang Thang Tien Vietnam). The party‟s name is commonly abbreviated as VNPP or VPP. This document will use VNPP. 18 Thayer, C.A. 2009, „Vietnam and the Challenge of Political Civil Society‟, Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 2012 Annual Report
    U.S. Commission on InternationalUSCIRF Religious Freedom Annual Report 2012 Front Cover: Nearly 3,000 Egyptian mourners gather in central Cairo on October 13, 2011 in honor of Coptic Christians among 25 people killed in clashes during a demonstration over an attack on a church. MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom March 2012 (Covering April 1, 2011 – February 29, 2012) Commissioners Leonard A. Leo Chair Dr. Don Argue Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou Vice Chairs Felice D. Gaer Dr. Azizah al-Hibri Dr. Richard D. Land Dr. William J. Shaw Nina Shea Ted Van Der Meid Ambassador Suzan D. Johnson Cook, ex officio, non-voting member Ambassador Jackie Wolcott Executive Director Professional Staff David Dettoni, Director of Operations and Outreach Judith E. Golub, Director of Government Relations Paul Liben, Executive Writer John G. Malcolm, General Counsel Knox Thames, Director of Policy and Research Dwight Bashir, Deputy Director for Policy and Research Elizabeth K. Cassidy, Deputy Director for Policy and Research Scott Flipse, Deputy Director for Policy and Research Sahar Chaudhry, Policy Analyst Catherine Cosman, Senior Policy Analyst Deborah DuCre, Receptionist Tiffany Lynch, Senior Policy Analyst Jacqueline A. Mitchell, Executive Coordinator U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom 800 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 790 Washington, DC 20002 202-523-3240, 202-523-5020 (fax) www.uscirf.gov Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom March 2012 (Covering April 1, 2011 – February 29, 2012) Table of Contents Overview of Findings and Recommendations……………………………………………..1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………..1 Countries of Particular Concern and the Watch List…………………………………2 Overview of CPC Recommendations and Watch List……………………………….6 Prisoners……………………………………………………………………………..12 USCIRF’s Role in IRFA Implementation…………………………………………………14 Selected Accomplishments…………………………………………………………..15 Engaging the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Long Road to Democracy 29
    INTRODUCTIONI VIETNAm’s iCE AGE In January 2011, the Arab Spring transformed Tunisia. Egypt followed suit. Then Burma had its own spring. But no spring ever came to Vietnam. On the contrary, the political chill deepened. When National Assembly speaker Nguyen Phu Trong took over as Vietnamese Communist Party general secretary, he was ready to do anything to maintain order and, above all, stay in power. He inaugurated a new era marked by a growing crackdown on journalists and bloggers. Since his promotion, those who refuse to submit to the single party’s censorship have been subjected to waves of arrests, trials, physical attacks and harassment. The Trong era’s statistics are impressive, if not glorious. In 2012 alone, the Vietnamese authorities prosecuted no fewer than 48 bloggers and human rights activists, imposing a 3 total of 166 years in jail sentences and 63 years of probation. Vietnam is now the world’s second biggest prison for blogger and netizens, after China. Relative to population size, the situation is much worse in Vietnam than China. A total of 35 bloggers and netizens are currently detained just for exercising their right to information and expression, of whom 26 were arrested since Trong took over. The new Vietnamese strongman’s achievements including reinforcing the human and technological resources assigned to Internet surveillance, and the constant adoption of new repressive laws and directives. The latest, called Decree 72, makes it illegal to use blogs and online social networks to share information about news developments. It marks a new low in the regime’s campaign against use of the modern Internet as a tool of independent information and troublesome counterweight to Vietnam’s traditional media, which are kept under tight party control.
    [Show full text]
  • Regarding the Matter of Mr. Le Quoc Quan And
    UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF OPINION AND EXPRESSION, MR. FRANK LA RUE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND OF ASSOCIATION, MR. MAINA KIAI UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, MRS. MARGARET SEKAGGYA With a copy to: UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE INDEPENDECE OF JUDGES AND LAWYERS, MRS. GABRIELA KNAUL c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights- Palais Wilson, United Nations Office at Geneva CH1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Sent via e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 13 March 2013 Regarding the matter of Mr. Le Quoc Quan and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam - Request for Relief Pursuant to Resolutions 7/36, 16/4, 15/21, 7/8 and 16/5 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Letter of Allegation respectfully requests the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders (“the Joint Rapporteurs”) to investigate and intervene in the unlawful arrest and detention of lawyer, blogger and human rights defender Le Quoc Quan. The signatory organisations request the Joint Rapporteurs to declare any continuing detention of Mr. Quan a violation of his human rights. Mr. Quan is currently arbitrarily detained by the Government of Viet Nam due to having exercised his right to freedom of expression, right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, as well as his activities as a human rights defender.
    [Show full text]
  • Conviction of Cu Huy Ha Vu View
    Vietnam Committee on Human Rights OPEN LETTER to HE Nguyen Minh TRIET President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam HE Nguyen Tan DUNG Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam HE Ha Hung CUONG Minister of Justice of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam HE Vu DUNG Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva With copies to: Hon. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations Hon. Navanethem Pillay United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Paris-Geneva, April 7, 2011 Subject: Conviction of Cu Huy Ha Vu is a travesty of justice and he must be immediately and unconditionally released Your Excellencies, The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT), and the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR) are writing to you to lodge our strongest protest against the conviction on April 4, 2011 of Mr. Cu Huy Ha Vu, who was sentenced by the Hanoi People‟s Court to seven years of imprisonment and three years of house arrest for “propaganda against the Republic Socialist Republic of Vietnam” under Article 88 of Vietnam's Criminal Code. Mr. Ha Vu, a lawyer, has been a peaceful defender of cultural, environmental and civil and political rights and has consistently used the courts to seek justice for those whose rights have been violated by the Government and private actors. Recently he had initiated two lawsuits against the Prime Minister, the first filed in July 2009 targeted the latter for signing Decision 167 in November 2007, which allowed controversial bauxite mining operations in Vietnam's Central Highlands.
    [Show full text]
  • Internal Communication Clearance Form
    NATIONS UNIES UNITED NATIONS HAUT COMMISSARIAT DES NATIONS UNIES OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS AUX DROITS DE L’HOMME HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROCEDURES SPECIALES DU SPECIAL PROCEDURES OF THE CONSEIL DES DROITS DE L’HOMME HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Mandates of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. REFERENCE: UA G/SO 218/2 G/SO 214 (67-17) Health (2002-7) G/SO 214 (107-9) G/SO 214 (3-3-16) G/SO 214 (53-24) VNM 5/2013 7 August 2013 Excellency, We have the honour to address you in our capacity as Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; and Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment pursuant to Human Rights Council resolutions 15/18, 16/4, 15/22, 16/5, 17/2, and 16/23.
    [Show full text]
  • Petition To: United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
    PETITION TO: UNITED NATIONS WORKING GROUP ON ARBITRARY DETENTION Mr Sètondji Roland Adjovi (Benin) Mr José Guevara (Mexico) Mr Seong-Phil Hong (Republic of Korea) Mr Vladimir Tochilovsky (Ukraine) Ms Leigh Toomey (Australia) HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY in the matter of HUU VINH NGUYEN (The “Petitioner”) v. Government of THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM Petition for Relief Pursuant to Commission on Human Rights Resolutions 1997/50, 2000/36, 2003/31, and Human Rights Council Resolutions 6/4 and 15/1 Submitted by: Media Legal Defence Initiative The Foundry 17 Oval Way London SE11 5RR United Kingdom This Petition was prepared by students participating in the Freedom of Expression Law Clinic at the University of Edinburgh, Faculty of Law, with Media Legal Defence Initiative, and supervised by barrister Smita Shah and advocate Ailsa Carmichael QC. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Petitioner requests that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (“Working Group”) render an Opinion that his arrest and detention amounts to arbitrary detention as defined by the Working Group. The Petitioner is a professional private detective, blogger and human rights defender working within the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (“Viet Nam”). He aggregates and re-publishes content from various sources on the internet, including articles published by international media and independent journalists and bloggers. These articles typically discuss politically sensitive issues, such as relations between China and Viet Nam. The Petitioner was arrested on 5 May 2014 and held in pre-trial detention for 22 months. His online activity led to him being charged with “[a]busing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organisations and/or citizens” under Article 258 of the Viet Nam Penal Code (“VP Code”).1 He was convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on 23 March 2016.
    [Show full text]
  • Page 1 ---Internationale Menschenrechte --Wer Gewährt Sie Wem
    internationale Menschenrechte — wer gewährt sie wem? l Er ist dem Staat ein Dorn im Auge Vietnam: Der Fall Cu Huy Ha Vu Vietnam Der Menschenrechtsverteidiger und Umweltaktivist Cu Huy Ha Vu wurde am 4. April 2011 zu sieben Jahren Gefängnis und anschließenden drei Jahren Hausarrest verurteilt. Er ist das letzte und wahrscheinlich popu lärste Opfer einer großangelegten vietnamesischen Regierungsoffensive gegen Regimekritiker. 13 Aber es gab auch juristische Bedenken. Eine Ent Norbert Krüger scheidung der Provinz aus dem Jahr 1976 besagt, Seine Bekanntheit liegt nicht nur in seiner Familie das Gebirge sei ein wichtiger Aktivposten begründet: Sein Vater ist der in Vietnam berühmte der Bevölkerung und müsse daher ge Schriftsteller Cu Huy Can. Als Freund und Weggenos schützt werden. Auch sei bei der Geneh se Ho Chi Minhs gehörte Can zum Kader der Viet migung zum Bau nicht die Stellungnah namesischen Kommunistischen Partei und war 1945 me des Ministeriums für Kultur und In einer der 15 Unterzeichner der Unabhängig formation eingeholt worden, wie es Pa keitserklärung Vietnams. Auch sein Onkel, Xu- ragraph 28 des Gesetzes zum Schutz des an Dieu, zählt zu den renommiertesten Dich Kulturellen Erbes vorsieht. tern des Landes. Vu selbst entschied sich für die Auch wenn die Klage vom Gericht juristische Laufbahn. Für sein Studium ginger ignoriert wurde, war Cu Huy Ha Vus nach Paris und erarbeitete sich an juristisches Vorgehen gegen die der Sorbonne einen Doktor in kommunale Stadtverwaltung doch Rechtswissenschaften. das erste dieser Art in der Ge Zurück in Vietnam machte schichte Vietnams. er von sich reden, als er 2005 eine Klage gegen das Volkskomitee von Thua Thien- fr Hue einreichte, nachdem dieses eine Baugenehmi Der Prozess gegen den Premierminister gung für ein Hotelresort in den Vong Canh-Ber- K machte ihn bekannt gen erteilt hatte.
    [Show full text]
  • Country Advice
    Country Advice Vietnam 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.
    [Show full text]
  • 50Th Commemoration of Agent Orange/DIOXIN
    50th Commemoration of Agent Orange/DIOXIN PROTEST AIR WAR, CHEMICAL WAR, WAR CRIMES Compiled by Dick Bennett for a Culture of Peace, Justice, and Ecology— Protection of Humans and All Species from the Warmakers. Contents http://thewe.cc/weplanet/asia/vietnam/agent_orange_victims_of- US_herbicide_spraying_vietnam.htm Help the Vietnam Victims Rolla Veterans Protest Dioxin Use Companies and US Government Knew Danger of Dioxin Companies Concealed Danger www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn Vietnamese Edition NEWS NATIONAL PRESIDENT HO CHI MINH AND THIS DAY IN HISTORY National Thursday ,Jun 23,2011, Posted at: 17:23(GMT+7) Society December 31 December 30 Politics December 29 December 28 Ho Chi Minh City Help called for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange International Latest News Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin or VAVA VN, Thailand mark relations with regional focus Business National Assembly ratifies new cabinet members Health has called Vietnamese and people around the world to give a Swedish Gov’t: Embassy in Hanoi will be retained Exhibition on Agent Orange tragedy Education hand to Dioxin’s victims. Cu Huy Ha Vu to attend court of appeals Science/Tech. PM to retain current cabinet structure Japanese female writer awarded peace insignia Sports The call, which marks the 50th A Weather Commemoration of Agent Orange (AO), businesswoman Environment reminds people of the catastrophic day, offers gifts to Law three- year-old Travel August 10, 1961 when aircrafts of US Air Culture/Art Nguyen Hoai Lifestyle Force first sprayed the toxic herbicide overThuong, a Special report South Vietnam. Entertainment victim of Agent Opinion August 10 is such a terrible memory to Orange/Dioxin About us in Cu Chi Contact us Vietnamese people.
    [Show full text]
  • Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Newsletter
    Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Newsletter 2014–2015 Inside This Issue 2015–2016 Fellows.............................3 2014–2015 Reagan-Fascell Fellows: AFRICA: Arthur Gwagwa .........................4 Simegnish “Lily” Mengesha......5 Pepe Julian Onziema..................6 N’yella Rogers..............................7 Negaso Solan...............................8 Tidiani Togola.............................9 Front row (L–R): Manager Zerxes Spencer, senior director Sally Blair, vice presi- dent Marc F. Plattner, executive director Christopher Walker, and senior research ASIA: and conferences officer Melissa Aten. Back row (L–R): Program assistant Mar- lena Papavaritis, research associate Elise Alexander, program assistant Hainer Si- Zin Mar Aung............................10 brian, assistant program officer Ashley Walburn Hull, librarian Tim Myers, and program officer Jessica Ludwig. (Not pictured: research associate Ayhan Ucok.) Lily Gomes................................11 Farahnaz Ispahani....................12 Dear Friends, Cu Huy Ha Vu..........................13 EURASIA: This Newsletter showcases the work of our Reagan-Fascell, Visiting, and Umed Babakhanov...................14 Hurford Youth Fellows, including activists, journalists, and scholars Dmitry Dubrovsky...................15 from Afghanistan, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burma, Ethio- pia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Le- Altay Goyushov........................16 one, Tajikistan, Uganda, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. Prominent themes Gubad
    [Show full text]
  • VIETNAM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY the Socialist
    VIETNAM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an authoritarian state ruled by a single party, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and President Truong Tan Sang. The most recent National Assembly elections, held in May, were neither free nor fair, since the CPV’s Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), an umbrella group that monitors the country’s mass organizations, vetted all candidates. Security forces reported to civilian authorities. The most significant human rights problems in the country were severe government restrictions on citizens’ political rights, particularly their right to change their government; increased measures to limit citizens’ civil liberties; and corruption in the judicial system and police. Specific human rights abuses included continued police mistreatment of suspects during arrest and detention, including the use of lethal force, as well as austere prison conditions, arbitrary arrest and detention for political activities, and denial of the right to fair and expeditious trial. Political influence, endemic corruption, and inefficiency strongly distorted the judicial system. The government increasingly limited privacy rights and freedoms of the press, speech, assembly, movement, and association; increasingly suppressed dissent; further restricted Internet freedom; reportedly was involved in attacks against critical Web sites; and spied on dissident bloggers. Freedom of religion continued to be subject to uneven interpretation and protection, with significant problems continuing, especially at provincial and village levels. Police corruption persisted at various levels. The government maintained its prohibition of independent human rights organizations. Violence and discrimination against women as well as trafficking in persons continued, as did sexual exploitation of children and some societal discrimination based on ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, and HIV/AIDS status.
    [Show full text]
  • During the Year 2011 and the First Quarter of 2012, There Were Many Violations of Human Rights in Vietnam Including a Steady Stream of Political Trials and Arrests
    During the year 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, there were many violations of human rights in Vietnam including a steady stream of political trials and arrests. The Vietnamese government systematically suppresses freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Independent writers, bloggers, and rights activists who question government policies, expose official corruption, or call for democratic alternatives to one-party rule are routinely subject to police harassment and intrusive surveillance, detained incommunicado for long periods of time without access to legal counsel, and sentenced to increasingly long terms in prison for violating vague national security laws. Police frequently torture suspects to elicit confessions and, in several cases, have responded to public protests over evictions, confiscation of land, and police brutality with excessive use of force. Authorities forcibly dispersed anti-China protests in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 2011 and protesters were intimidated, harassed, and in some cases detained for several days. Human Rights Watch recommends that Australia should focus on the cases of political prisoners and detainees, and examine four key priority areas in its upcoming human rights dialogue with Vietnam. These four priority areas are the following: repression of the freedom of speech and freedom of organization; repression of the right to freely practice religion; police brutality; and forced labor in drug rehabilitation centers. While we welcome the human rights dialogue as a vehicle for engaging with Vietnamese authorities about human rights concerns, we consider it of paramount importance that human rights concerns remain an integral part of the Australia-Vietnam relationship at all levels. For this human rights dialogue to be effective, Australia should ensure that it does not become an isolated dialogue with little, if any, resonance in the overall Australia- Vietnam relationship.
    [Show full text]