International PEN is seriously concerned by reports that professor and Internet writer Vu Van Hung is suffering from ill health and has been relocated to an unknown location. PEN is seeking information regarding Vu Van Hung’s whereabouts and well-being as a matter of urgency, and requests that he be given full access to all necessary medical care and family visits.

Background Information

According to PEN’s information, Vu Van Hung, 43, was arrested on September 18, 2008, and his home was searched by Security Police officers. Although his family was told that he would be charged under Article 88 of the Penal Code for "Conducting propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam," no charges have yet been made known. He has been held at camp B14, district Thanh Liet Thanh Tri, Ha Noi, since September 19, 2008.

On January 23, 2008, Vu Van Hung’s wife met with newly amnestied prisoners who were released on the Lunar New Year. They had recently shared Vu Van Hung’s prison cell and reported serious concerns for his health and well-being following a month-long hunger strike that he staged to protest alleged ill-treatment by other inmates and interrogators. He has reportedly been hospitalized several times in recent weeks, and has now been taken from his prison cell to an undisclosed location, apparently as a result of his failing health. His whereabouts remain unknown and concerns for his welfare are mounting.

In a separate case, PEN has received confirmation of the release of journalist and Internet writer Huynh Nguyen Dao (pen name: Huynh Viet Lang), after serving a 2.5-year sentence. He was arrested on August 15, 2006, on charges of "conducting propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam." Huynh Nguyen Dao was released on February 17, 2009.

Write A Letter

  • Expressing serious concern for the health of dissident writer Vu Van Hung, and seeking information about his whereabouts as a matter of urgency;
  • Urging that Vu Van Hung is given full access to all necessary medical care and family visits;
  • Welcoming the release of journalist and Internet writer Huynh Nguyen Dao, and calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained for the peaceful exercise of their right to free expression in Vietnam, in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Vietnam is a signatory.

Send Your Letter To

His Excellency Nguyên Minh Triêt
President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Hanoi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Nguyên Tân Dung
Prime Minister
1 Hoang Hoa Tham Street
Hanoi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Lê Doan Hop
Minister of Culture and Information
1 Hoang Hoa Tham Street
Hanoi
Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Please note that there are no fax numbers available for the Vietnamese authorities, so you may wish to ask the diplomatic representative for Vietnam in your country to forward your appeals. It would also be advantageous to ask your country’s diplomatic representatives in Vietnam to intervene in the case.

Please send appeals immediately. Check with PEN if sending appeals after March 10, 2009: ftw [at] pen.org