President Barack Obama
The
White House
1600
Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington,
DC 20500
Phần nôi dung :
I was informed that you will host Mr. Truong Tan Sang,
President of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the White House on Thursday,
July 25,
2013. While I am happy to learn that you plan to discuss
human rights
concerns with Mr. Sang, I call on you to champion political
freedom and
press for the release of Vietnam’s many prisoners of
conscience.
In recent years, the Vietnamese communist government has
increased its
suppression of peaceful dissent by arresting scores of
political activists
and bloggers. The government continues to tighten control
over the
Internet and limit freedoms of speech, assembly, and
association. In the
first half of 2013 alone, 46 democracy activists have been
imprisoned,
while the 47th activist, human rights attorney and former
National
Endowment for Democracy Fellow Le Quoc Quan, is waiting to
be tried.
I ask that you use Mr. Sang’s upcoming visit as an
opportunity to
establish clear benchmarks to improve human rights in
Vietnam. Sustainable
economic development should be coupled with human rights
achievements. The
people of Vietnam deserve a freer Internet and legal reforms
that
guarantees freedom of expression and association.
As President, you’ve demonstrated a strong determination to
promote
democracy around the world. Please stand by Vietnam’s brave
human rights
defenders such as legal scholar Cu Huy Ha Vu, musician Viet
Khang,
bloggers Dieu Cay and Paulus Le Son, entrepreneur Tran Huynh
Duy Thuc,
university students Nguyen Phuong Uyen and Dinh Nguyen Kha
and ensure that
their call for change is not ignored. They deserve more than
just
expressions of concern; their continual arbitrary detention
should compel
you to act.
Thank you for your urgent attention to this highly important
issue.
Sincerely,
Oanh Tô
