FVPOC: Vietnam Seriously Violates Freedom of Expression by New Arrests

nguyen huu vinh

On behalf of the Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience (FVPOC), Co-President Dr. Nguyen Dan Que said: We totally protest the arrest of AnhBaSam’s owner Nguyen Huu Vinh and his co-partner Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy. Vietnam’s government needs to respect the freedom of expression. We demand the government to clarify the case and free the two bloggers unconditionally.

By FVPOC | May 7, 2014

Translation by [rollinglinks]Vu Quoc Ngu[/rollinglinks]

(Tell The World)

On May 5, Vietnam’s police arrested Nguyen Huu Vinh, owner of the most popular Vietnamese online website AnhBaSam, and one co-partner for posting articles carrying out ““incorrect contents that aim to defame the party and state.” The arrest is pursuant to Article 258 under the Penal Code of the Socialistic Republic of Vietnam, the Ministry of Public Security said on its website.

On behalf of the Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience (FVPOC), Co-President Dr. Nguyen Dan Que said: We totally protest the arrest of AnhBaSam’s owner Nguyen Huu Vinh and his co-partner Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy. Vietnam’s government needs to respect the freedom of expression. We demand the government to clarify the case and free the two bloggers unconditionally.

Many members of the FVPOC, including journalist Truong Minh Duc and bloggers Dinh Nhat Uy, and other online bloggers, including PoC Truong Duy Nhat and Pham Viet Dao, have been suppressed by the Vietnamese government while they are practicing their rights of freedom of expression.

On the same day, website DienDanDanSu (Civil Society Forum) was also hacked. One day earlier, the Forum co-signed with other 12 civil societies an appeal calling the government to respect the freedom for association.

Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience, May 7, 2014