U.S. Senator Asks Ambassador Osius, Human Rights Watch to Investigate Brutal Attack against Vietnamese Activist Nguyen Chi Tuyen

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In her open letter, Senator Nguyen expressed her hope that the involvement of Ambassador Osius and the Human Rights Watch will help bring the individuals who assaulted Mr. Tuyen accountable.
The assault is supposed to be an act of retaliation ordered by the Long Bien district police for Mr. Tuyen’s efforts to advocate for democracy in Vietnam as well as environmental protection in Hanoi.

By Vu Quoc Ngu | May 12, 2015

Vietnam-origin Senator Janet Nguyen has called on U.S. Ambassador Ted Osius to Vietnam and the New York-based Human Rights Watch to conduct an investigation on the brutal attack against Hanoi-based activist Nguyen Chi Tuyen.

Mr. Tuyen, a famous political dissident and human rights activist in Hanoi, was severely beaten by a group of five plainclothes agents near his private house in Long Bien district on May 11. He was hospitalized with bleeding and numerous injuries in his head and body.

In her open letter, Senator Nguyen expressed her hope that the involvement of Ambassador Osius and the Human Rights Watch will help bring the individuals who assaulted Mr. Tuyen accountable.

The assault is supposed to be an act of retaliation ordered by the Long Bien district police for Mr. Tuyen’s efforts to advocate for democracy in Vietnam as well as environmental protection in Hanoi.

Senator Nguyen, who fled Vietnam after the communists took over the Vietnam Republic, said “the unfortunate reality is that attacks like the one committed against Mr. Tuyen have become commonplace in Vietnam. Time and time again the Vietnamese government resorts to these repressive tactics to silence the opinions of those who contradict the government.”

“We cannot allow the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to subdue its citizens in this shameful manner,” she said.

As an independent international organization, the Human Rights Watch should investigate the attack, Senator Nguyen from California said.

Tuyen, an officer of a Hanoi-based publishing agency, actively participated in anti-China protests in Hanoi in the 2011-2014 period when China repeatedly violated Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea.

He is among leading figures in demonstrations in Hanoi in March-April to protest the city’s plan which aims to chop down 6,700 healthy aged trees in city’s main streets.

Due to his social activities, he was summoned several times by Hanoi police for interrogation about his role in these demonstrations.

Last month, Nguyen Anh Tuan, a very active democracy advocate in Hanoi, was also severely beaten by thugs in Long Bien district where his family resides.

Vietnam’s communist government has often hired thugs to attack local activists and bloggers who peacefully express their opinions on the government economic mismanagement, corruption and weak response to China’s violations of the country’s sovereignty in the East Sea.

Among victims of the government-supported attacks are human rights lawyers Le Quoc Quan and Nguyen Bac Truyen, democracy advocate Nguyen Van Dai, independent journalist Truong Minh Duc, human rights activist Vu Quoc Ngu, social activist Nguyen Van Son, Truong Van Dung and labor activist Tran Thi Nga.