Author: demo_admin

Today, May 27, Pham Doan Trang celebrates her 46th birthday in prison, her third one behind bars. According to PEN America’s latest report, she is among 19 writers incarcerated in Vietnam for their writings.

PEN America named Vietnam the third biggest jailer of writers in 2024. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) named Vietnam the fifth jailer of journalists worldwide in 2024. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) listed Vietnam lower than China and Myanmar in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index. The overall picture of freedom of expression in Vietnam has become more depressed every year in the last decade. The penal codes, such as Article 117, for spreading propaganda against the state,  and Article 331, abuse of democratic freedoms,  are routinely used against writers, journalists, dissidents, and even regular Vietnamese. 

While Vietnam has recently strengthened its strategic partnership with the U.S., Australia, and Japan, the above-mentioned penal codes in its criminal justice system belong to the Cold War. In this globalized era, the language used to criminally charge people’s thoughts and opinions under these penal codes should have been repealed. If Vietnam wants to be a global partner with many countries in the West, it needs to distance itself from the Stalinistic criminal defamation laws. To start, Vietnam should release the journalists and writers from its prisons, and Pham Doan Trang should be one of the first.

Pham Doan Trang was arrested on Oct. 6, 2020, hours after the annual U.S.-Vietnam Human Rights Dialog was held in Hanoi. Her arrest and imprisonment that year were blatant attempts to silence her powerful voice. Despite international condemnation, she continues to endure harsh conditions, her health deteriorating with each passing day while she’s in confinement. As a current member of the Human Rights Council, Vietnam must release this year’s recipient of the PEN America Barbey’s Freedom to Write Award, the laureate of the 2022 International Press Freedom Award of CPJ, and the RSF Press Freedom Prize 2019. 

Doan Trang remains imprisoned under harsh conditions for her steadfast commitment to freedom and democracy. Despite facing immense personal risk, Doan Trang chose to stay in Vietnam and fight for the rights of her fellow citizens rather than seek asylum abroad. Her arrest in 2020 and nine-year prison sentence in 2021 on charges of “spreading anti-state propaganda” have only highlighted her unyielding dedication to human rights and free expression.

Doan Trang’s work, which includes founding the online magazines The Vietnamese Magazine and Luat Khoa Magazine, has been instrumental in educating and empowering Vietnamese citizens about their rights. 

We now call on people worldwide to support Pham Doan Trang by joining a campaign #WritetoTrang to write letters and postcards to her. Your words of solidarity can demonstrate global support for her cause. Your messages will also provide much-needed encouragement and show Doan Trang that the world has not forgotten her. Writing to her can also pressure the Vietnamese authorities to secure her release.

Please send your letters to:

Pham Doan Trang

An Phuoc Prison

An Thai Commune

Phu Giao District

Binh Duong Province

Vietnam

You can also publish your letters online using #WritetoTrang. Please visit the Legal Initiatives for Vietnam (LIV) website for more information on participating in this campaign and staying updated on Trang’s situation. Your support is crucial in our collective effort to stand against oppression and advocate for a free and democratic Vietnam​​.

The original article was published in The Vietnamese Magazine on May 28, 2024. It can be accessed here.

On April 11, 2024, the Associated Press (AP) reported that Legal Initiatives for Vietnam (LIV) Co-founder Pham Doan Trang would be awarded PEN America’s Barbey Freedom to Write Award (previously the  PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award) on May 16, 2024, during PEN’s annual literary gala. Established in 2016, the award is given to honor writers who have been imprisoned for their work, with the purpose of ending the persecution of writers and defending free expression. Trang’s lawyer, Dang Dinh Manh, and LIV Executive Director, Quynh-Vi Tran, will accept the award on her behalf.

In a press statement, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel remarked that Pham Doan Trang’s “powerful words” have ignited the spirit of the Vietnamese people “through her writings on democracy, human rights, environmental degradation, and women’s empowerment.” PEN’s CEO also states that despite the Vietnamese government’s persecution and crackdown on activism and dissent, Trang has remained steadfast in her pursuit of justice, even at significant cost to her health and freedom. 

Before her imprisonment, Pham Doan Trang was a staunch and vocal critic of the Vietnamese government, openly denouncing its actions on her blog and through her many published works such as “Politics of a Police State” and “Politics for the Common People.” Her activism and outspoken views led to repeated harassment and assaults by the police; Trang now walks with a permanent limp due to police beating during an environmental protest in 2015. Fearing for her safety, Trang left Hanoi for Saigon in July 2017, where she continued her advocacy. However, on Oct. 6, 2020, she was arrested and subsequently sentenced to nine years in prison in 2022 on charges of “spreading anti-state propaganda.”

PEN America has called for Trang’s release numerous times and has closely monitored her well-being and situation since 2019. Moreover, the organization has continued to bring attention to and raise awareness of the broader human rights situation in Vietnam and other countries across the globe. 

The award serves as a springboard for PEN’s advocacy for the writers it honors; out of the 53 imprisoned writers who have received the award since 1987, 46 have been released. PEN attributes this success, at least in part, to the increased awareness generated about the writers’ situations and the pressure exerted on the offending governments.

Taipei, Sept. 9, 2023 — Eight Vietnamese civil society organizations have sent US President Joseph R. Biden Jr. an open letter urging him to address three wrongful death penalty cases during his upcoming visit to Vietnam.

In the open letter dated Sept. 9, the coalition of eight prominent Vietnamese civil society organizations – including Legal Initiatives for Vietnam – has urgently called upon President Biden to request the halt of Nguyen Van Chuong‘s execution and intervene in two other wrongful death penalty cases – Ho Duy Hai and Le Van Manh, highlighting the need for justice reform and human rights in Vietnam.

The organizations jointly emphasize their deep commitment to justice, equality, and human rights principles and underscore the urgent nature of the situation in Vietnam’s justice system.

Please see the full text of the open letter below.

For media inquiries, please contact Quynh-Vi Tran – LIV’s Executive Director, at vi.tran@liv.ngo.

English:

Tiếng Việt:

***

President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

September 9, 2023

8 Vietnamese Civil Society Organizations Urge President Joe Biden to Address Three Cases of Wrongful Death Sentences

Dear President Biden:

We hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. We write to you today as civil society organizations and concerned citizens of Vietnam, deeply committed to the principles of justice, equality, and human rights that the world stands for. We would like to draw your attention to an urgent matter that deserves your consideration during your upcoming trip to Vietnam on September 10, 2023.

We need your resolute voice to address the pressing issue of wrongful death penalty cases in Vietnam during your visit to Vietnam. Specifically, we implore you to call for an immediate halt to the imminent execution of Nguyen Van Chuong, an action that authorities may execute at any moment.

Furthermore, it is imperative that Vietnam conducts a thorough and immediate legal review of the three cases involving Nguyen Van Chuong, Le Van Manh, and Ho Duy Hai, aiming to exonerate them from their wrongful death sentences. These individuals have endured decades of imprisonment on death row for crimes the Vietnamese legal system has failed to substantiate with any credible evidence.

In recent years, the issue of wrongful convictions and the death penalty in Vietnam has garnered international attention. Wrongful convictions share disturbingly similar characteristics in Vietnam, often occurring in rural areas and disproportionately affecting the poor and less educated members of society. The alarming trend of police brutality and coerced confessions, coupled with a lack of effective legal counsel, has led to miscarriages of justice in Vietnam’s legal system. Perhaps most distressing is the fact that many individuals have been sentenced to death based on little to no credible evidence, relying solely on confessions obtained through force and torture.

The need for legal reforms in Vietnam is real and urgent. One of them is the wrongful conviction and death sentence of Nguyen Van Chuong, and you can halt his imminent execution.

Nguyen Van Chuong was convicted of murder in 2008 and sentenced to death despite claims of torture during his detention and a lack of concrete evidence against him. Chuong had several alibi witnesses that the authorities ignored and failed to bring up at his criminal trial and the appellate hearing so that they could convict, sentence him to death, and uphold that decision.

On August 4, 2023, Chuong’s family received a notification from the court to collect his body, indicating that his execution was imminent. In response, both Chuong’s family and the public have passionately petitioned the President of Vietnam to halt his execution and initiate a thorough review of his case. An impressive show of support has emerged, with nearly 6,000 individuals signing this petition, 13 international human rights organizations issuing an open letter demanding a halt, and the U.N. Human Rights Office calling upon Vietnam to reexamine his case. Regrettably, the government has remained silent for over a month, causing grave concern for Chuong’s life.

We would like to bring two other wrongful cases to your attention involving two young men who have been convicted, sentenced, and incarcerated on death row for decades. Their stories highlight the critical issues within Vietnam’s justice system and underscore the importance of addressing these injustices:

Ho Duy Hai: Ho Duy Hai’s case epitomizes the systemic flaws in Vietnam’s legal process. He was accused of robbery and murder in 2008, convicted on dubious grounds, and sentenced to death. Subsequent investigations have raised serious questions about his guilt, including the lack of physical evidence and the murder weapons. Despite this, Ho Duy Hai continues to languish on death row, awaiting an execution that may not be just.

Le Van Manh: Le Van Manh’s story is another tragic testament to the urgency of reform. Accused of rape and murder in 2005, he was swiftly convicted and sentenced to death. Like the others, his case has been marred by allegations of coerced confessions and a lack of due process.

As the President of the United States, your visit to Vietnam provides an invaluable opportunity to shed light on these grave injustices and advocate for legal reforms. By addressing these cases and raising concerns about the broader issues of wrongful convictions and the death penalty, you can significantly impact the lives of those unjustly imprisoned and help advance the cause of justice in Vietnam.

We respectfully request that you consider including the cases of Nguyen Van Chuong, Ho Duy Hai, and Le Van Manh in your discussions with Vietnamese leaders. Furthermore, we urge you to emphasize the pressing need for legal reforms in Vietnam to ensure justice, equality, and fairness in every trial. The United States has a longstanding commitment to human rights and the rule of law, and your advocacy on this issue would be a powerful testament to these universal values.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We hope your leadership will bring about positive change and contribute to a more just and equitable world.

Sincerely,

Civil Society Forum
(Diễn đàn Xã hội Dân sự)

Independent Writers Association
(Ban vận động Văn đoàn Độc lập)

Lập Quyền Dân

Lê Hiếu Đằng Club
(Câu lạc bộ Lê Hiếu Đằng)

Legal Initiatives for Vietnam
(Sáng kiến Pháp lý Việt Nam)

Nguyễn Trọng Vĩnh Club
(Câu lạc bộ Nguyễn Trọng Vĩnh)

Phan Tây Hồ Club
(Câu lạc bộ Phan Tây Hồ)

Vietnamese Advocates for Change
(Nhóm Làm việc vì Một Việt Nam Thay đổi)

Legal Initiative Vietnam (LIV) announces the appointment of Ms. Tran Quynh Vi as its new Executive Director, effective September 1, 2023. This transition marks a significant milestone in LIV’s journey toward enhancing organizational efficiency and reinforcing its commitment to the values of independent journalism, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Vietnam.

The decision to appoint Ms. Tran Quynh Vi as Executive Director comes from a resolution passed by the Board of Directors, replacing the previous co-director mechanism with a single executive director. With deep gratitude and appreciation, LIV acknowledges the invaluable contributions of Co-director Trinh Huu Long, who has stepped down from his position to assume the role of Editor-in-Chief of Luat Khoa magazine, a project under LIV’s umbrella.

Ms. Tran Quynh Vi co-founded LIV in 2014 and has been a co-director since December 2016. Her career trajectory is a testament to her unwavering dedication to human rights and journalism. Originally a lawyer in the state of California, USA, Ms. Tran Quynh Vi transitioned to the field of human rights in 2015, ultimately becoming a prominent advocate for these crucial causes.

As a dual citizen of Vietnam and the United States, Ms. Tran Quynh Vi has a unique perspective that informs her work. Her academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Davis, a law degree from Lincoln Law School, and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.

In addition, Ms. Tran Quynh Vi has been the editor-in-chief of The Vietnamese Magazine, an English journalism project launched by LIV in November 2017. She will continue to fulfill this important role as she assumes the position of executive director of LIV.

This leadership transition reflects LIV’s commitment to evolving its management structure for increased efficiency in content production and overall operations. It is important to note that this change does not in any way diminish LIV’s steadfast dedication to its core mission, which is centered on promoting independent journalism, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Vietnam, along with the projects that LIV actively supports.

LIV extends its heartfelt gratitude to its readers, partners, and sponsors for their unwavering support over nearly nine years. The organization’s growth and sustainability are directly attributable to the invaluable support of its dedicated stakeholders.

Board of Directors
Legal Initiatives for Vietnam

THÔNG BÁO: LIV bổ nhiệm Trần Quỳnh Vi làm giám đốc điều hành từ ngày 1/9

Kể từ ngày 1/9/2023, cô Trần Quỳnh Vi – đồng giám đốc – trở thành giám đốc điều hành của tổ chức Sáng kiến Pháp lý Việt Nam (LIV) theo một nghị quyết của Hội đồng Quản trị.

Nghị quyết này thay thế cơ chế đồng giám đốc (hai người) bằng cơ chế giám đốc điều hành (một người). Đồng giám đốc Trịnh Hữu Long thôi giữ chức kể từ ngày 1/9 và chuyển hẳn sang vai trò tổng biên tập của Luật Khoa tạp chí – một dự án của LIV.

Trần Quỳnh Vi là đồng sáng lập viên của LIV năm 2014 và là đồng giám đốc của LIV kể từ tháng 12/2016. Cô vốn là luật sư tại tiểu bang California, Hoa Kỳ trước khi chuyển sang hoạt động chuyên nghiệp trong lĩnh vực nhân quyền từ năm 2015.

Trần Quỳnh Vi là công dân Việt Nam và Hoa Kỳ. Cô rời Việt Nam sang định cư tại Hoa Kỳ từ năm 12 tuổi. Cô có bằng cử nhân tâm lý học tại Đại học UC Davis, bằng luật tại Đại học Luật Lincoln (Lincoln Law School) và bằng thạc sĩ báo chí tại Đại học Columbia.

Tại LIV, ngoài vai trò chủ chốt trong ban lãnh đạo, Trần Quỳnh Vi là tổng biên tập của The Vietnamese Magazine – một dự án báo chí tiếng Anh của LIV – kể từ khi ra mắt tạp chí vào tháng 11/2017. Cô sẽ tiếp tục đóng vai trò này khi nhậm chức giám đốc điều hành của LIV.

LIV thay đổi cơ chế lãnh đạo lần này để tăng cường tính hiệu quả trong công tác quản lý lẫn sản xuất nội dung. Sự thay đổi này không ảnh hưởng tới cam kết của LIV với sứ mệnh xiển dương báo chí độc lập, nhân quyền, dân chủ và pháp quyền tại Việt Nam, cũng như với các dự án mà LIV đang thực hiện.

LIV chân thành cảm ơn quý độc giả, các đối tác và nhà tài trợ đã luôn ủng hộ các hoạt động của chúng tôi trong gần chín năm qua. LIV đang phát triển một cách bền vững nhờ sự ủng hộ quý báu đó của các bạn.

Hội đồng Quản trị
Sáng kiến Pháp lý Việt Nam

Kể từ ngày 1/9/2023, cô Trần Quỳnh Vi – đồng giám đốc – trở thành giám đốc điều hành của tổ chức Sáng kiến Pháp lý Việt Nam (LIV) theo một nghị quyết của Hội đồng Quản trị.

Nghị quyết này thay thế cơ chế đồng giám đốc (hai người) bằng cơ chế giám đốc điều hành (một người). Đồng giám đốc Trịnh Hữu Long thôi giữ chức kể từ ngày 1/9 và chuyển hẳn sang vai trò tổng biên tập của Luật Khoa tạp chí – một dự án của LIV.

Trần Quỳnh Vi là đồng sáng lập viên của LIV năm 2014 và là đồng giám đốc của LIV kể từ tháng 12/2016. Cô vốn là luật sư tại tiểu bang California, Hoa Kỳ trước khi chuyển sang hoạt động chuyên nghiệp trong lĩnh vực nhân quyền từ năm 2015.

Trần Quỳnh Vi là công dân Việt Nam và Hoa Kỳ. Cô rời Việt Nam sang định cư tại Hoa Kỳ từ năm 12 tuổi. Cô có bằng cử nhân tâm lý học tại Đại học UC Davis, bằng luật tại Đại học Luật Lincoln (Lincoln Law School) và bằng thạc sĩ báo chí tại Đại học Columbia.

Tại LIV, ngoài vai trò chủ chốt trong ban lãnh đạo, Trần Quỳnh Vi là tổng biên tập của The Vietnamese Magazine – một dự án báo chí tiếng Anh của LIV – kể từ khi ra mắt tạp chí vào tháng 11/2017. Cô sẽ tiếp tục đóng vai trò này khi nhậm chức giám đốc điều hành của LIV.

LIV thay đổi cơ chế lãnh đạo lần này để tăng cường tính hiệu quả trong công tác quản lý lẫn sản xuất nội dung. Sự thay đổi này không ảnh hưởng tới cam kết của LIV với sứ mệnh xiển dương báo chí độc lập, nhân quyền, dân chủ và pháp quyền tại Việt Nam, cũng như với các dự án mà LIV đang thực hiện.

LIV chân thành cảm ơn quý độc giả, các đối tác và nhà tài trợ đã luôn ủng hộ các hoạt động của chúng tôi trong gần chín năm qua. LIV đang phát triển một cách bền vững nhờ sự ủng hộ quý báu đó của các bạn.

Hội đồng Quản trị
Sáng kiến Pháp lý Việt Nam

ANNOUNCEMENT: Legal Initiative Vietnam (LIV) Appoints Ms. Tran Quynh Vi as Executive Director as of September 1, 2023

Legal Initiative Vietnam (LIV) announces the appointment of Ms. Tran Quynh Vi as its new Executive Director, effective September 1, 2023. This transition marks a significant milestone in LIV’s journey toward enhancing organizational efficiency and reinforcing its commitment to the values of independent journalism, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Vietnam.

The decision to appoint Ms. Tran Quynh Vi as Executive Director comes from a resolution passed by the Board of Directors, replacing the previous co-director mechanism with a single executive director. With deep gratitude and appreciation, LIV acknowledges the invaluable contributions of Co-director Trinh Huu Long, who has stepped down from his position to assume the role of Editor-in-Chief of Luat Khoa magazine, a project under LIV’s umbrella.

Ms. Tran Quynh Vi co-founded LIV in 2014 and has been a co-director since December 2016. Her career trajectory is a testament to her unwavering dedication to human rights and journalism. Originally a lawyer in the state of California, USA, Ms. Tran Quynh Vi transitioned to the field of human rights in 2015, ultimately becoming a prominent advocate for these crucial causes.

As a dual citizen of Vietnam and the United States, Ms. Tran Quynh Vi has a unique perspective that informs her work. Her academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Davis, a law degree from Lincoln Law School, and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.

In addition, Ms. Tran Quynh Vi has been the editor-in-chief of The Vietnamese Magazine, an English journalism project launched by LIV in November 2017. She will continue to fulfill this important role as she assumes the position of executive director of LIV.

This leadership transition reflects LIV’s commitment to evolving its management structure for increased efficiency in content production and overall operations. It is important to note that this change does not in any way diminish LIV’s steadfast dedication to its core mission, which is centered on promoting independent journalism, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Vietnam, along with the projects that LIV actively supports.

LIV extends its heartfelt gratitude to its readers, partners, and sponsors for their unwavering support over nearly nine years. The organization’s growth and sustainability are directly attributable to the invaluable support of its dedicated stakeholders.

Board of Directors
Legal Initiatives for Vietnam