Petition by DienDan ChinhTri San Diego, CA
25 October, 2012
Navanethem Pillay
Office of the United Nations , High Commissioner for Human Rights UNOG-OHCHR
1211 Geneva 10, SWITZERLAND
Dear Mrs. Pillay,
Re: Appeal for the immediate release of Ms. Nguyen Phuong Uyen whom been detained the last 2 weeks and all other political detainee under Vietnamese government’s laws, the infamous article 88 of Penal Code of Vietnam “conducting propaganda anti the state”and might be will be set concurrently with article 79, “over-turn the government”.
I am writing to strongly urge you to lobby for the immediate release of Ms Nguyen Phuong Uyen, who born in 1992, a student in a Saigon’s university, was arrested on October 14, 2012 but the authorities constantly denied the responsibility until after October 22 , 2012. She is charged over the infamous article 88 of Penal Code of Vietnam “conducting propaganda anti the state”. It has been reported that Phuong Uyen had participated in making and spreading anti-Chinese aggression leaflets. She has been accused of being members of Vietnamese Patriot Youth and of participating in subversive activities against the government such as distribute leaflets against China and government corruption. However, no hard evidence has been produced to substantiate these allegations.
Ms. Nguyen Phuong Uyen must be given recourse to a fair treat in conformity with international standards of due process and access to full legal representation and family members. With no real evidence harm to society is found against a detainee, she should be released without delay, as holding her indefinitely merely on the basis of suspicion is a violation of Vietnam’s constitution.
I am also quite concerned about the fact that Ms. Uyen has been physically and mentally abused and harassed in the past weeks and being forced to accept her accused crime. I ask that you ensure that Ms. Uyen are treated according to the international human rights standards. Human rights organizations and her family should be given immediate and full access to visit her the Longan Detention Centre (or any other detention where currently holding Ms. Uyen)
Most importantly, I strongly urge you to lobby the Vietnamese government to abolish that Ms. Uyen are still being currently detained without charge, or legal representation, merely on the basis of suspicion.
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.
Defend the Defenders 