US SENATOR BARBARA BOXER & WORLD
POLITICAL/ RELIGIOUS LEADERS
[VNToday]
November
22nd, 07
The
Honorable Barbara Boxer
Senator
United States Senate
112
Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
Re:
Request intervention to release prisoners of
conscience in
Vietnam .
Dear
Senator Boxer:
We would like to
request your intervention with the authorities
of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRVN) to
release prisoners of conscience as soon as
possible. For years, activists who had
peacefully expressed their views to demand the
SRVN authorities to honor and respect the basic
human and civil rights for citizens in
Vietnam have been harassed, arrested and
finally imprisoned. The basic human rights by
which these activists demanded have been
formally guaranteed by the Constitution of SRVN
which was approved on April 15, 1992 by
Vietnam 8th National Assembly(Excerpt
below) and have also been endorsed by the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights on
December 10, 1948.
We have
been extremely concerned about the safety,
physical and mental health conditions of the
following prisoners, prominent activists for
(religious) freedom and human rights in
Vietnam such as The Rev. Thaddeus Nguyen
Van Ly, Nguyen Phong, Nguyen Binh Thanh,
Attorneys Le Thi Cong Nhan and Nguyen Van Dai,
etc. Please refer attached updated list of
political and religious prisoners who have been
currently under detainment.
Your
intervention is greatly appreciated to help
release these detainees as soon as possible.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and
your loved ones. Thank you.
Respectfully yours,
Viet Si
Speaker
International Movement for Religious Freedom &
Human Rights in
Vietnam
Supporting
Bloc 8406 in
Vietnam
Quebec, Canada &
San Jose , California
Cc:
Leadership of the United States Senate
Leadership of the United States House of
Representatives
Leadership of the United States Department of
State
Respected political & religious leaders & media
around the world
Attachment:
Excerpt of the
Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
unanimously approved by the eighth National
Assembly on April 15th, 1992 at
11:45AM.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
AND DUTIES OF THE CITIZENS.
Article 50
In the Socialist Republic of Vietnam human rights in
the political, civic, economic, cultural and social
fields are respected. They are embodied in the
citizen's rights and are determined by the
Constitution and the law.
Article 51
The State guarantees the rights of the citizen; the
citizen must fulfill his duties to the State and
society.
Article 53
The citizen has the right to participate in the
administration of the State and management of
society, the discussion of problems of the country
and the region; he can send petitions to State
organs and vote in referendums organized by the
State.
Article 58
The citizen enjoys the right of ownership with
regard to his lawful income, savings, housing,
chattel, means of production funds and other
possessions in enterprises or other economic
organizations; with regard to land entrusted by the
State for use, the matter is regulated by the
provisions of Articles 17 and 18.
Article 69
The citizen shall enjoy freedom of opinion and
speech, freedom of the press, the right to be
informed, and the right to assemble, form
associations and hold demonstrations in
accordance with the provisions of the law.
Article 70
The citizen shall enjoy freedom of belief and of
religion; he can follow any religion or follow
none. All religions are equal before the law.
Article 71
The citizen shall enjoy inviolability of the
person and the protection of the law with regard
to his life, health, honor and dignity. No one
can be arrested in the absence of a ruling by
the People's Court, a ruling or sanction of the
People's Office of Supervision and Control
except in case of flagrant offences. Taking a
person into, or holding him in, custody must be
done with full observance of the law. It is
strictly forbidden to use all forms of
harassment and coercion, torture, violation of
his honor and dignity, against a citizen.