Vietnam: Nguyen Huu Cau released after 20 years in prison

FIDH VNHCRFIDH | 24 March 2014

Nguyen Huu Cau was sentenced to life imprisonment in May 1983 for writing poems about corruption and the abuse of power. He was charged with “undermining the unity policy.” 

FIDH and its member organization, VCHR, highlighted Nguyen Huu Cau’s case in a document published last March detailing the profiles of 17 political prisoners of particular concern. This was presented to the Vietnamese authorities as part of an active mobilisation to secure their release.

Vietnam has the highest number of political prisoners in Southeast Asia. FIDH and VCHR demand the unconditional release of over 200 political prisoners and a review of the legislation used to arrest and imprison activists for effectively exercising their fundamental human rights.