AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 4 March 1999 sixty-three year old geologist and writer Nguyen Thanh Giang was arrested in Hanoi for the possession of "anti-socialist propaganda." Formal charges against Dr. Giang have not been made public yet and his whereabouts are unknown.

Dr. Giang and his family have also been subjected to repeated police harassment. In March 1998, he was detained by police for four days and charged with the illegal distribution of an anthology of a fellow dissident's poetry. Most recently, in May 1998, he was summoned to police headquarters and advised to stop criticizing Party policy.

Dr. Giang has gained international recognition and respect both as a professional geologist and as an outspoken advocate of human rights and democracy. He has written a series of public letters calling for multi-party democracy and peaceful reform.

The arrest of Dr. Giang constitutes a serious violation of international human rights standards, including basic protections listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ratified by Vietnam on 24 September 1982). They include:

Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

• Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person (Article 3);
• everyone has the right to freedom of expression (Article 19); and
• everyone has the right to freedom of association (Article 20).

Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:

• Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention (Article 9);
• everyone has the right to freedom of expression (Article 19); and
• everyone has the right to freedom of association (Article 22).

(Sources of information for this case are Human Rights Watch and Mr. Doan Viet Hoat, former Vietnamese political prisoner.)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send fax or email messages:

• Calling on the government of Vietnam to release Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giang immediately and unconditionally on the grounds that he was arrested solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression; and
• expressing concern about the ill treatment of Dr. Giang and urging that his whereabouts be revealed.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Phan Van Khai
Prime Minister
Hoang Hoa Tham
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam


Le Minh Huong
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
Tran Binh Trong
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam


Nguyen Mang Cam
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1 Ton That Dam
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam

COPIES SENT TO:

His Excellency Bang LE
Ambassador to the United States
Embassy of Vietnam
1233 20th St., NW, Suite 501
Washington, DC 20036
Fax: 202 861 0917


Ambassador Douglas B. Peterson
Embassy of the United States of America
PSC 461, Box 400
FPO AP 96521-0002
Fax: 011 84 8 822 9434

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

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