Scholars at Risk calls for letters: Vietnamese professor to face trial

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Scholars at Risk calls for letters: Vietnamese professor to face trial

Date: July 27, 2011

Scholars at Risk (SAR) is gravely concerned about Professor Pham Minh Hoang, who will face trial on August 10, 2011 on charges of “attempting to overthrow the socialist government”. SAR asks for letters, faxes and emails urging the appropriate authorities to intervene to examine the circumstances of his detention; to ensure his access to legal counsel, family and medical care, pending his earliest release; and to ensure that Professor Hoang’s case is addressed in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process and fair trial, in accordance with Vietnam’s obligations under international law.

Scholars at Risk is an international network of over 250 universities and colleges in 30 countries dedicated to protecting the human rights of scholars around the world and to raising awareness, understanding of, and respect for the principles of academic freedom and its constituent freedoms of expression, opinion, thought, association and travel. In cases like Professor Hoang’s involving alleged infringement of these freedoms, SAR investigates hoping to clarify and resolve matters favorably.

Professor Pham Minh Hoang is a lecturer of mathematics at Ho Chi Minh City Polytechnic Institute. He was arrested on August 13, 2010. He has been charged with “attempting to overthrow the socialist government” and will face trial on August 10, 2011, just three days before the one-year anniversary of his imprisonment. His detention and trial suggest retaliation against a scholar for the peaceful exercise of fundamental rights of free expression and association that are guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Vietnam is party.

In advance of Professor Hoang’s trial, Scholars at Risk respectfully urges the appropriate authorities to examine the circumstances of his detention and, pending his earliest release, ensure his access to legal counsel, family and medical care. SAR further urges authorities to ensure that Professor Hoang’s case is addressed in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process and fair trial, in accordance with Vietnam’s obligations under international law.

Scholars at Risk invites letters, emails and faxes be sent:

-respectfully urging authorities to examine the circumstances of Professor Hoang’s detention and, pending his earliest release, ensure his access to legal counsel, family and medical care; and

-respectfully urging authorities to ensure that Professor Hoang’s case is addressed in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process and fair trial, in accordance with Vietnam’s obligations under international law.

PLEASE WRITE TO:

Nguyen Tan Dung

Prime Minister

Office of the Prime Minister

Hoang Hoa Tham

Ha Noi

Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

Email: banbientap@mofa.gov.vn (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

COPIES TO:

Truong Vinh Trong

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Amnesty Advisory Council

Prime Minister’s Office

Hoang Hoa Tham

Ha Noi

Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

Le Hong Anh

Minister of Public Security

Ministry of Public Security

44 Yiet Kieu

Hoan Kiem

Ha Noi

Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

Minister Alain Juppé

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

37 Quai d'Orsay

75351 Paris, France

Nicolas Warnery

Consul General

French Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City

27 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Q.1

Ho Chi Minh City

Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

Fax: +84-8-3520-6819 & +84-8-3520-6829

The Honorable _________

Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to [YOUR COUNTRY]

[POSTAL ADDRESS]

[FAX]

[EMAIL]

(See http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/bng_vietnam/dscqdd/ns050119142406#rvCeFX9Sul70 for a list of Vietnamese embassies worldwide.)

The Honorable _________

Ambassador of [YOUR COUNTRY] to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

[POSTAL ADDRESS]

[FAX]

[EMAIL]

Scholars at Risk

New York University

194 Mercer St., 4th floor

New York, NY 10012  USA

Fax: +1 212 995-4402

scholarsatrisk@nyu.edu

To view a model letter of appeal, as well as a copy of SAR’s letter, please visit: http://scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu/Education-Advocacy/Alerts-Scholars-in-Prison.php.