PEN International welcomes the release of French-Vietnamese university teacher and Internet writer Pham Minh Hoang on January 13, 2012. PEN continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all other writers and journalists currently detained in Vietnam in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Vietnam is a signatory.

Background Information

Pham Minh Hoang (pen name Phan Kien Quoc), was arrested in August 2010 and was convicted a year later for his critical online writings. He was found guilty of "activities aimed at overthrowing the people's government" and was sentenced to three years in prison and three years of probationary detention. On November 29, 2011, Pham’s imprisonment sentence was reduced on appeal to 17 months. 
 
On his blog, Pham Minh Hoang has written about a variety of social topics, including freedom of expression, education, the environment, and workers rights. He is said to be a member of the banned Viet Tan party.

Write A Letter

  • Welcoming the release of university teacher and Internet writer Pham Minh Hoang;
  • Demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all those currently detained in Vietnam in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, protecting the right to freedom of expression.

Send Your Letter To

President
His Excellency Nguyen Minh Triet
President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Hanoi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Pham Binh Manh
Minister of Foreign Affairs
1 Ton That Dam Street
Ba Dinh district
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Fax: + 844 3823 1872

Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Vietnam in your country if possible.

Please send appeals immediately. Contact PEN if sending appeals after February 28, 2012: ftw [at] pen.org