English PEN joins PEN International in condemning the ongoing harassment faced by blogger Tran Minh Nhat and his family ever since his release in August 2015.

Initially arrested in August 2011, Tran was sentenced to four years in prison and three years in probationary detention for ‘carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration’ under Article 79 of the Criminal Code in connection with his writings for a website linked to the Catholic Church. He was released on 28 August 2015 upon completion of his prison sentence.

Since then, Tran and his family have faced frequent and varying acts of harassment and intimidation at the hands of the authorities in Lam Ha district, Lam Dong Province and other unidentified assailants.

PEN calls on the Vietnamese authorities to end the harassment of Tran Minh Nhat and his family and to ensure their safety. PEN also calls on the authorities to carry out a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the acts of harassment reported by Tran Minh Nhat, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

For further information on Tran Minh Nhat, please visit the PEN International website.

TAKE ACTION:

On 15 March, International Day Against Police Brutality, Nhật will be available live with Loa to answer questions in English about the challenges of living under house arrest and collaborating with activists around the world. The AMA (Ask Me Anything) will take place on Loa’s Facebook page between 3-4pm GMT.

In the meantime, please show your support for Tran Minh Nhat and his family:

• Share on Facebook, Twitter and other social media
• Send messages of support via cat@englishpn.org
• Write to the Vietnamese authorities – details below

Please send appeals:

• Calling on the Vietnamese authorities to end the harassment, intimidation and other forms of attack against Tran Minh Nhat and his family;
• Urging the Vietnamese authorities to ensure the safety of Tran Minh Nhat and his family;
• Calling on the Vietnamese authorities to carry out a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation in to the acts of harassment reported by Tran Minh Nhat and his family and to bring the perpetrators to justice;
• Calling on the Vietnamese authorities to release immediately and unconditionally all writers and journalists held solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Appeals to:

His Excellency Truong Tan Sang
President of the Socialist Republicof 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 Pham 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@mofa.gov.vn

Please send copies of your appeals to Vietnamese diplomatic representatives in your country.