Vietnam: Letter on UN Human Rights Council Candidacy to Prime Minister Nguyen Dan Tung
Wed the 4th Waxing Moon of Kattikā BE2557, November 6, AD2013 Year of the Snake
Nguyen Dan Tung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Office of the State, 1 Bach Thao, Hanoi, Vietnam
Via facsimile: +84 80 48924; Via Email: toasoanwebcp@chinhphu.vn
Dear Prime Minister,
With
elections to the United Nations Human Rights Council quickly
approaching and with Vietnam standing as a candidate, we are writing to
urge your government to take several specific, concrete, visible steps
aimed at meeting its obligation to "uphold the highest standards in the
promotion and protection of human rights," as set forth in UN General
Assembly Resolution 60/251.
In making these
recommendations, Human Rights Watch recalls that in Vietnam's note
verbale from August 27, 2013, to the President of the General Assembly
containing its human rights pledges and commitments in connection with
its candidacy for Council membership, your government affirms that that
the rights and fundamental freedoms of Vietnam's people have recently
been "respected and ensured in an increasingly effective and full
manner." Further, the government of Vietnam pledges that the respect for
and promotion of human rights has been concretized via Vietnam's
"constitution and relevant laws, in their implementation mechanisms and
in practice" and, in particular, that the right to freedom of opinion
expressed via internet has been "enhanced."
The
real human rights situation in Vietnam is very much contrary to the
characterization in the note verbale and if your government's pledges
are to be taken as credible, Vietnam should act immediately to
demonstrate their sincerity.
Therefore, we urge Vietnam to signal its willingness to begin to address ongoing human rights concerns in advance of the November 12
elections by immediately and unconditionally releasing the following
ten political prisoners, whom - notwithstanding the charges pursuant to
which they have been convicted and sentenced to prison - we believe are
imprisoned for their exercise of basic human rights: Nguyen Huu Cau,
Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Le Van Son, Nguyen Van Hai, Ta Phong Tan, Nguyen
Van Ly, Cu Huy Ha Vu, Dinh Dang Dinh, Ho Thi Bich Khuong, and Vi Duc
Hoi.
Releasing these ten people now will be an
important step towards indicating Vietnam's commitment towards improving
its human rights record and will set an example as it campaigns for a
seat on the Human Rights Council. They are among the more than 150
individuals, including human rights defenders, political dissidents,
lawyers, journalists, bloggers, democracy advocates, religious
activists, land rights campaigners, and others whose convictions and
imprisonment on politically-motivated charges are inconsistent with
Vietnam's candidacy for the Human Rights Council. Particularly
inconsistent with this candidacy is the fact that the number of such
convictions is dramatically rising, with at least 61 such people
sentenced to prison so far this year, compared with some 40 convictions
known to Human Rights Watch in 2012.
Constitutional
reform is another step Vietnam could take to demonstrate its
suitability for Human Rights Council membership. In this regard,Human
Rights Watch wrote on October 22, 2013 to the chairman of Vietnam's
National Assembly urging its members to ensure that the revisions of the
constitution currently being undertaken fully meet international human
rights standards to protect the rights and liberties of all people in
Vietnam. We urge your government to support these recommendations. If
the Vietnam government shows it has the political will to undertake such
reforms, it would open the door for the National Assembly to initiate
pro-human rights constitutional changes.
Among
other things, amendments should include adoption of provisions on the
right to freedom of opinion and expression as laid out in international
standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (ICCPR), to which Vietnam acceded in 1982, and in the explanatory
United Nations Human Rights Committee General Comment on freedom of
expression.[1]
UN General Assembly Resolution
60/251 also calls for all members of the Human Rights Council to fully
cooperate with the council, including with its special procedures. To
heed this call, Vietnam should issue a standing invitation to all
special procedures mandate-holders. In particular, it should urgently
invite the special rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and
expression to Vietnam with a view to ensuring it becomes possible to
exercise this right in practice there, along with all other human
rights.
The Human Rights Council election
provides an important moment for Vietnam to demonstrate an enhanced
commitment to addressing human rights concerns. Human Rights Watch
appreciates your serious consideration of our proposals made in this
letter.
Sincerely,
Brad Adams
[1] Human Rights Committee, General Comment 25 (37), General Comments
under article 40, para 4, of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, adopted by the Committee at its 1510 meeting, U.N.
Doc. CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add. 7 (1996), para 27. To learn more on Khmer Krom
- www.khmerkromngo.org Courtesy HRW
5 comments:
WHAT A FUCKIN JOKE..DOG EAT DOG..GIVE A FUCK IF THEY ALL DIE..vietcon
កុំភ្លេចខ្លួនអែង CNRP ចាញ់ឆ្នោតតើ។ ម៉្យាងទៀត តើខ្លួនដំណាងអោយអ្នកណា ?
"គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ" និង ក្លាយទៅជា "គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះចោរ" គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិយួន ពួកនេះ
និងបណ្ដើរគ្នាទៅអង្គុយបង្គ្រប់កៅអី ជាសមាជិកសភាអាណត្តិទី៥ ទាំងអស់គ្នា នាពេលឆាប់ឆាប់ខាងមុខ នេះហើយ។
10:51 PM,
Your MAMA, Ah Chhkae Yuon full timer.
Human Rights abuser in Yieknam
Hanoi Vietcong and CRIMINAL CPP will never qualify for Humand Right Council or UN Security Council Member, in this life. Why? Because there's no room for there jungle law.
"Down to Hanoi Vietcong&CRIMINAL CPP."
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