PEN International welcomes the decision by an appeals court to reduce the sentence of university teacher and Internet writer Pham Minh Hoang. However, he will still have to serve three years of house arrest after his release in January 2012. PEN continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Pham Minh Hoang and 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) holds French and Vietnamese citizenship. He was arrested in August 2010 and was sentenced a year later, after being found guilty of "activities aimed at overthrowing the people's government." Pham’s three-year sentence was reduced on appeal to 17 months at a hearing on November 29, 2011, at the People's Supreme Court in Ho Chi Minh City. He is expected to be released on January 12, 2012.
 
In 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.
 
The following information is taken from an alert on November 29, 2011, by Reporters Without Borders (RSF):

At today's hearing, the appeal court judge said he had taken account of Hoang's "recognition" of "his errors," his request for clemency and his pledge to sever all ties with Viet Tan, an outlawed pro-democracy party. The judge said he also took account of his parents' age - they are both in their 90s - and the desire to "maintain good relations between France and Vietnam.

Write A Letter

  • Welcoming the reduction of the prison sentence handed down to university teacher and Internet writer Pham Minh Hoang;
  • Calling for Pham Minh Hoang’s immediate and unconditional release, as well as the release of all those currently detained in Vietnam solely for the peaceful expression of their opinions, in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Vietnam is a signatory.

Send Your Letter To

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

Minister of Public Security
Lt Gen Tran Dai Quang
Ministry of Public Security
44 Yet Kieu Street
Ha Noi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Fax: + 844 3942 0223

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 January 12, 2012: ftw [at] pen.org