26 March 2014 – Update #1 to RAN 06/14

PEN International welcomes the release of blogger Dinh Dang Dinh and writer and activist Nguyen Huu Cau on 21 March 2014 under an amnesty. PEN continues to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those currently imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Vietnam is a state party. PEN reiterates its call made on behalf of poet, essayist, scholar and Catholic priest Father Nguyen Van Ly who continues to serve a lengthy prison sentence and is seriously ill. For more information on their cases please see previous RAN 06/14.

Please send appeals:

• Welcoming the release of writers and activists Dinh Dang Dinh and Nguyen Huu Cau under an amnesty. Reiterating serious concern for the health of Nguyen Van Ly and urging that he is given full access to all necessary medical care as a matter of urgency;
• Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all those writers and activists imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression in accordance with Article 19 of the ICCPR to which Vietnam is state party.

Appeals to:

His Excellency Truong Tan Sang
President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Hung Vuong street
Ba Dinh district
Ha Noi
Viet Nam

Mr Nguyen Tan Dung
Prime Minister
1 Hoang Hoa Tham street
Ba Dinh district
Ha Noi
Viet Nam
Fax: +84 80 44130/ +84 80 44940

Mr Phan Binh Minh
Minister of Foreign Affairs
1 Ton That Dam steet
Ba Dinh district
Ha Noi
Viet Nam
Fax: +844 3823 1872
Email: bc.mfa [at] mofa.gov [dot] vn