Vietnam: Release author, journalist and activist, Pham Doan Trang

Pham Doan Trang. Image courtesy of The 88 Project

RAPID ACTION NETWORK

17 October

Update #1 to RAN 11/2020

This month marks the two-year anniversary since Pham Doan Trang was detained by the Vietnamese authorities, who subsequently sentenced her to nine years’ imprisonment for “Making, storing, spreading information, materials, items for the purpose of opposing the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”, a charge frequently used to target those who criticise the government. PEN International believes that Pham Doan Trang has been unjustly sentenced for her peaceful expression and calls again for her immediate and unconditional release, and for her conviction to be overturned.

TAKE ACTION! Please send appeals to the authorities of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam:

• Calling for Pham Doan Trang’s immediate release from arbitrary imprisonment by Vietnamese authorities;

• To overturn all criminal convictions against her under the Vietnamese Penal Code;

• Grant Pham Doan Trang access to adequate health care, along with immediate and unimpeded access to her family and legal representative; and

• End the crackdown on bloggers, writers and free speech activists in Vietnam.

A template appeal letter is available to use, in both English and Vietnamese.

Send appeals to:

Prime Minister

• Mr. Pham Minh Chinh

• Address: 1 Hoang Hoa Tham street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi, Vietnam.

• Email: thongtinchinhphu@chinhphu.vn

• Social Media: https://twitter.com/vngovtport...

Minister of Foreign Affairs

• Mr. Bui Thanh Son

• Address: No. 1, Ton That Dam street, Dien Bien, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi, Vietnam.

• Email: bc.mfa@mofa.gov.vn

• Twitter: @FMBuiThanhSon

Send copies to the Embassy of Vietnam in your country: Click here.

** Please send appeals immediately. Check with PEN International if sending appeals after 31 October 2022 **

Publicity

PEN members are encouraged to:

• Publish articles and opinion pieces in your national or local press highlighting the case of Pham Doan Trang and freedom of expression in Vietnam;

• Share information about Pham Doan Trang and your campaigning activities via social media, calling for the quashing of her sentence and immediate, unconditional release.

** Please keep PEN International informed of any action you take in regard to Pham Doan Trang’s case, including any responses you receive from the authorities **

Additional Information

Pham Doan Trang is an author, journalist, publisher and democracy activist. A selfless advocate for the rights of others, she has suffered severe persecution from the authorities, including harassment, assault, and forced homelessness.

Regarded as one of Vietnam’s most prominent human rights activists, Pham Doan Trang is the author of several books, including Politics of a Police State, Non-Violent Opposition and Handbook on supporting Prisoners . Pham Doan Trang has received multiple awards in recognition of her advocacy work, including the 2020 IPA Prix Voltaire Award and the 2022 Martin Ennals Award. On 17 November 2022, Pham Doan Trang is due to be awarded CPJ’s International Press Freedom Award in recognition of her reporting in the face of persecution.

In October 2020, Pham Doan Trang was arrested at her home and charged with “conducting propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”, an allegation frequently used to imprison dissident writers and human rights activists.

While detained, Pham Doan Trang was denied access to legal counsel and medical care for over a year. This ill-treatment raises serious concerns in relation to her pre-existing health conditions, such as low blood pressure and chronic pain, resulting from her legs being severely injured after she was assaulted by the police in 2015.

On 14 December 2021 Pham Doan Trang was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment, despite her unjust detention drawing international condemnation from the the United Nations Special Procedures, human rights groups, and governments around the world. On 25 August 2022, the Hanoi People's High Court rejected Pham Doan Trang’s appeal against the sentence. On 1 October 2022, Pham Doan Trang was transferred to a prison located approximately 100km north of Ho Chi Minh City, further complicating her ability to receive visits from her family and legal representatives.

In May 2019, Pham Doan Trang drafted a letter to be circulated in the eventuality she was ever jailed. The letter can be found here.

For previous actions by PEN International on Vietnam, click here.

For further information please contact Ross Holder, Asia Programme Coordinator at PEN International, Unit A, Koops Mill, 162-164 Abbey Street, London, SE1 2AN, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, email: ross.holder@pen-international.org