Nghị Quyết Đ̣i CSVN Trả Tự Do BS
Phạm Hồng Sơn Được Hạ Viện Hoa Kỳ Thông Qua 421-1
Ủy Ban Tự Do Tôn Giáo Cho Việt
Phái đoàn DB
Tưởng cũng
nên nhắc lại BS Phạm Hồng Sơn bị bắt ngày
Trong phiên
ṭa sơ thẩm, BS Phạm Hồng Sơn bị kết án 12 năm tù và 3 năm quản chế.
Nhưng sau nhờ áp lực mạnh mẽ của quốc tế, phiên ṭa phúc thẩm đă giảm
án cho ông c̣n 5 năm tù và 3 năm quản chế. Hiện nay t́nh trạng sức
khoẻ của ông rất sa sút v́ bệnh sa ruột và nhiều bệnh khác. Tuy nhiên
tinh thần ông vẫn rất kiên cường; ông từ chối mặc áo tù nhân v́ tự
nhận ḿnh không có tội ǵ ngoài tội yêu nước. Để trả thù, CSVN giam
ông trong điều kiện vô cùng khắc nghiệt và hạn chế không cho gia đ́nh
thăm nuôi.
Tháng 12,
2005, nhân chuyến đi VN tham sát t́nh h́nh TDTG và nhân quyền, DB
Chris Smith (R, NJ) đă gặp riêng Bà Vũ Thúy Hà, vợ BS Phạm Hồng Sơn;
và liền sau khi về lại
Đỗ Văn
Mỹ, Mai Thị Dung, Nguyễn Khắc Toàn, Nguyễn Thanh Phong, Nguyễn Thị Hà,
Nguyễn Văn Diễn, Nguyễn Vủ B́nh, Phan Văn Ban, Tô Văn Mạnh, Vơ Văn
Bữu, Vơ Văn Thanh Liêm (Năm Liêm). Bùi Thiện Huệ, Nguyễn Lập Mà,
Nguyễn Nhất Thống, Nguyễn Văn Lư, Phan Văn Lợi, Thích Đổng Thọ, Thích
Huyền Quang, Thích Nguyên Lư, Thích Nguyên Vương, Thích Phước An,
Thích Quảng Độ, Thích Tâm Liên, Thích Thái Ḥa, Thích Thanh Huyền,
Thích Tiến Hạnh, Thích Tuệ Sỹ, Thích Viên Định, Ngô Văn Ninh, Lê Văn
Chương, Lê Văn Tính, Phương Văn Kiểm, Nguyễn Văn Sĩ, Trần Văn Thiện,
và Thích Thiện Tâm.
Smith Resolution Calls for Release of
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The
House of Representatives today passed H. Con Res 320, a resolution
written by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House
Subcommittee that oversees global human rights, calling on the
government of Vietnam to immediately release Dr. Pham Hong Son and
other political prisoners.
In March, 2002, Vietnamese government
police arrested Dr. Son on charges of espionage after he translated
an article from the website of the US Embassy, entitled "What is
Democracy," and sent it to friends and senior Vietnamese officials.
Dr. Son had also written an open letter, published on the Internet,
protesting the fact that his house had been searched illegally and
his computer and documents confiscated. After a closed trial and
appeal – from which Western reporters and diplomats from Europe, the
United States, and Canada were barred, Dr. Son was sentenced to five
years in prison and an additional three years of house arrest.
“America cannot turn our
back on those who fight oppression by voicing their support of
freedom and democracy like Dr. Son,” said Smith, who went to
Vietnam in December and met with Dr. Son’s courageous wife,
Vu Thuy Ha. “Vietnam is at a
critical crossroads and is seeking to expand its trade relations
with the US and join the WTO. There will be no better time to
convince Vietnam of the seriousness of our human rights concerns.”
In December, less than a day after
Smith’s resolution passed through committee, Vietnamese officers
detained two well-known Internet writers, at a public Internet
café. The police forced one, Do Nam Hai (also mentioned in the
resolution) to open his personal e-mail account and print about 30
of his sent messages. The two writers were interrogated for six
hours at the café at a police station in Hanoi.
Just weeks ago, another
Internet-user user calling himself “Freedom for the Country” joined
the discussion group called "Democracy and Freedom, the only way for
Vietnam” at a Hanoi cybercafé. After discussing and identifying
himself as a member of a pro-democracy working group, the freedom
promoting internet user was arrested by Vietnamese police. Despite
evidence to the contrary, the Vietnamese government denied the
arrest and the victim’s identity remains unknown. He joins three
other cyber-dissidents, who were arrested in October, and whose
whereabouts remain unknown.
“This continued persecution will
obviously not go away by itself,”
said Smith. “The biggest fear of tyrannical government is public
exposure, and we need to keep attention focused on Vietnam’s
continuing violation of the basic rights it claims to grant its
people.” Smith, who
conducted a hearing in February to examine the operating procedures
of major US internet companies in China and other repressive
countries, has introduced the Global Online Freedom Act of 2006 (HR
4780) which will establish US policy regarding the free flow of
information on the Internet. The bill will enable the US to
protect a free Internet and ensure that American companies operating
in countries with repressive governments are able to respect the
universal rights of freedom of speech and press. “The
ability to communicate openly is the key to unlocking the doors
restricting freedom for those who cannot feel its touch,” said
Smith. “The Global Online Freedom Act will send a clear message
to repressive governments that the internet will not be used as a
weapon to stifle dissent and opposing viewpoints.” ### For
Immediate Release: April 6, 2006
Political Prisoners in Vietnam; Call to Pass the
Global Online Freedom Act Renewed
Contact: Brad Dayspring (202) 225-3765