Urgent Announcement Over Ongoing Hunger Strike of Prisoner of Conscience Nguyen Van Hai (Alias Dieu Cay)

Urgent Announcement Over Ongoing Hunger Strike of Prisoner of Conscience Nguyen Van Hai (Alias Dieu Cay)

Hanoi, 25 July, 2013

We, Vietnamese citizens the undersigned, who went right in Nghe An on July 22, 2013 to meet in person relatives of Prisoner of Conscience Nguyen Van Hai and work with the representatives of the Nghe An province’s Department of Procuracy and Prison No. 6 where Mr. Hai has been serving his 12-year-term for just exercising the fundamental freedoms.

After finding facts, we are convinced to conclude as below:

I. It is true that Mr. Hai has fasted against the illegal decision by the authorities of the Prison No. 6. Mr Hai’s hunger strike was confirmed on July 22, 2013 by Mr Nguyen Quoc An, Deputy Head of Office No. 4 of the Nghe An province’s Department of Procuracy as his reply: “We have been expecting a report from the Prison No 06 over convicted Nguyen Van Hai’s hunger strike.”

II. The authorities in the Prison No.6 behaved irresponsible, elusive and deceptive over questions on Mr. Hai’s hunger strike. As examples as while on July 20, 2013 Captain Nguyen Van Dieu of the Prison No 6 told Mr Hai’s son that the Prison No. 6 had forwarded all Mr Hai’s petitions to Nghe An province’s Department of Procuracy, on July 22, 2013, Mr Tran Danh Tien, an official of Nghe An province’s Department of Procuracy, issued a written confirmation that his Department had never seen any petitions signed by convicted Nguyen Van Hai from the Prison No 6. Right in the afternoon of July 22, 2013 we eye-witnessed the indifferent, irresponsible and misleading conduct of the representatives of the Prison No 6.

III. The well-being of Prisoner of Conscience Nguyen Van Hai is in a critical state and his life may be counted down by days.

Upon today as of July 25, 2013, Mr Hai has been on hunger strike for the past 32 days to protest the Prison No 6’s coercing him into pleading guilty.

Mr Nguyen Van Hai told his son in a brief visit on July 20, 2013 that he would not stop hunger strike unless the Nghe An province’s Procuracy responds to his petition and investigate his denunciation against the prison’s authorities.

Thus, we heartily demand that the Prison Management Department No 8 of Ministry of Public Security, the Prison No 6, the Procuracy in Nghe An province and other relevant governmental establishments urgently satisfy Prisoner of Conscience Nguyen Van Hai’s legal requirements so he could stop hunger strike as soon as possible.

We vigorously call upon Vietnamese people and foreigners, media outlets, human rights organizations all around the world and foreign diplomatic missions in Vietnam to voice for and act more strongly to save the life of Prisoner of Conscience Nguyen Van Hai, who has proved integral and dedicated his own life in fighting for freedoms and against injustice.

Sincerely,

Nguyen Thuy Hanh Phan Trong Khang Vu Quoc Ngu

Đang Bich Phuong Pham Hong Son Nguyen Tuong Thuy

J.B. Nguyen Huu Vinh

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