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The RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights 1367 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 200 |
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T CONTACT: Contact: Erik Manuel Giblin (202) 463-7575 x 226 or giblin@rfkmemorial.org, www.rfkmemorial.org
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vietnam:
Human Rights Defender Freed!!! UNITED NATIONS -- 3 February 2005 / www.MaximsNews.com / The 1995 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Laureate Dr. Nguyen Dan Que was released on Monday. The RFK Memorial lauds the Vietnamese government for this positive step, "We are relieved that the Government of Vietnam has released Dr. Que," said Todd Howland, Director of the RFK Center for Human Rights. "We see this as an important step toward greater respect for human rights and freedom of expression in Vietnam and we're especially pleased that Dr. Que and his family will finally be united." Dr.
Que is scheduled to arrive at his home in Ho Chi Minh City this
Thursday, after having been released from a remote prison in Thanh Hoa
province on January 31 as part of the Tet (Lunar New Year) Amnesty that
has included the release of over 8000 prisoners. The Center worked with Dr. Que's family, friends, allies, and civil society partners, as well as officials in the United States Government, fellow nations and international governing bodies in calling for his release. Dr Que was detained on March 17, 2003 for sending an email message three days earlier criticizing the Vietnamese Government and was sentenced to 30 months in prison on July 29, 2004 for allegedly abusing "democratic freedom to infringe upon the interest of the State." Continued progress in Vietnam with respect to human rights will help this country of 80 million further its development as a partner among nations. Director Todd Howland stated, "We
believe that greater political space for freedom will substantially
enhance Vietnam's ongoing integration into the international community
as well as highlight social responsibility among this nation's chief
corporate investors." The Center will continue to work closely with Dr. Que and support his work for greater freedom of expression. The
Center encourages the Vietnamese government to continue its progress in
human rights, specifically by ensuring that all defendants in Vietnam
are given their rights to counsel, a fair and open trial and visitation
and guaranteeing that all its citizens enjoy the right to freedom of
expression, a right enshrined in the Vietnamese Constitution and
protected under international human rights law, to which Vietnam has a
treaty obligation to follow. Doctor Nguyen Dan Que, Founder of the Nonviolent Movement for Human Rights, has dedicated his life to advocating for improvements in democracy and human rights in Vietnam. In
November of 1995, the Center for Human Rights presented Dr. Que with the
RFK Human Rights Award for his bravery in continually advocating, at
great personal risk, for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of
the Vietnamese people.
Dr. Que has also received international recognition for his heroic efforts as a human rights advocate and writer, earning the 1993 Raoul Wallenberg Human Rights Award and several nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 2004. In 2002, Human Rights Watch honored Dr. Que with a Hellman-Hammett Grant, an international award for writers who have been victims of political persecution, for his founding of "The Future," a human rights review that began circulating in 2000 secretly in Vietnam and openly around the world. Most
recently, Dr. Que was awarded The Northcote Parkinson Fund 2004
Certificate for Distinction in Civil Courage, the Vietnam Human Rights
Network 2004 Vietnam Human Rights Prize and the New York Academy of
Sciences 2004 Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights of Scientists Award. Founded in 1968, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial works to realize Robert F. Kennedy's vision of social justice. In 1984, the Memorial established the Center for Human Rights (CHR) and the Human Rights Award to enhance the global nature of RFK's work and directly support defenders, known as laureates, around the world. The CHR strives to enhance the capacity of its laureates by helping marshal the resources necessary for them to increase the impact of their efforts and share the lessons of their endeavors with the international community. There are currently 35 RFK Human Rights Award laureates working in 20 countries around the world. For additional information, please visit www.rfkmemorial.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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