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Image source, Vietnam Association of Independent Journalists
Dr. Pham Chi Dung is the president of the Vietnam Association of Independent Journalists and has been arrested by the authorities since November 21, 2019.
The lawyers told the BBC they had the initial information after the first meeting, the first meeting with clients who are indicted in the case of the government prosecuting some independent journalists in Vietnam on propaganda charges. against the socialist state.
The president of the Association of Independent Journalists of Vietnam, Mr. Pham Chi Dung, told the representative of the Prosecutor’s Office where he was detained that he did not violate the law of Vietnam, the lawyers were requested by his family. Legal aid told the BBC on 11/17/2020 from Saigon.
On Tuesday, lawyer Nguyen Van Pcs told the BBC exactly one week ago that he had his first contact with his clients in the case of several journalists from the Vietnam Association of Independent Journalists. recognized by the Vietnamese government, arrested by the authorities and could be tried in a few months.
“Right in front of me, Mr. Pham Chi Dung wrote in an indictment that was given to him by a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Prosecutor’s Office.
He wrote clearly: “I have not violated the law of Vietnam” and I signed it. “
Lawyer Dang Dinh Manh also told the BBC on Tuesday:
“I went to meet my client, journalist Pham Chi Dung at No. 4 Phan Dang Luu, last Thursday.
“Mr. Dung and two other defendants in the case, Mr. Nguyen Tuong Thuy, Vice President of the Association of Independent Journalists of Vietnam and Mr. Le Huu Minh Tuan, are prosecuted under Clause 2, Article 117 of the Penal Code of Vietnam, for whom I briefly summarize that the crime is called anti-state propaganda.
“In this case, the families of Mr. Dung and Mr. Tuan asked me for help and I can say that with the acts of which my clients are accused, the majority admit to having taken action. I saw, but the thing is that they do not consider such acts as a violation of the law.
“In short, they admit the act, but do not admit that it is a violation of Vietnamese law as charged by the government.”
How was your health and under pressure?
Freelance journalist Nguyen Tuong Thuy commented on the arrest of freelance journalist Dr. Pham Chi Dung
Regarding the health and response during detention of journalists who are detained, prosecuted and awaiting trial, lawyer Dang Dinh Manh said:
“With Mr. Pham Chi Dung and Mr. Le Huu Minh Tuan, I see that their health is no problem.
“Regarding whether or not there was pressure during my arrest and detention, I asked, but they did not reflect anything worth mentioning, which means that nothing seems to happen like persecution, harassment, corporal punishment.”
Lawyer Nguyen Van Tham told the BBC:
“I was invited to defend two people, Mr. Pham Chi Dung and Mr. Nguyen Tuong Thuy, in terms of health, I see that Mr. Pham Chi Dung is generally awake, he is still thin, but his eyes are still very quick, pious, talk to me like you’re outside, not in custody.
“But Mr. Nguyen Tuong Thuy told me that he was in pain, his bones and joints ached, all his arms hurt, because he had to lie on the concrete floor, but he said he had gout. If we have it, we can’t see it again.
“I joked that the detention center was the place where gout was cured and both he and I laughed at that detail.”
“Either way, I accompany my husband”
Image source, FB Nguyen Tuong Thuy
Mr. Nguyen Tuong Thuy, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Independent Journalists, was arrested by the authorities on May 23, 2020.
On November 17, from Hanoi, Ms Pham Thi Lan, wife of journalist Nguyen Tuong Thuy, told the BBC:
“I also found out from the lawyer that my house still has pain in my left arm, I know it is because Mr. Thuy, when he was arrested, twisted his hand to force him to provide passwords on his computer.
“Until now, I have never met my husband, I have had to travel 8 times very hard and expensive from Hanoi to Saigon, they refused to let me see my husband even after the investigation phase ended.
“I think he was arrested and locked up in Saigon even though he and his family lived in Hanoi intentionally caused problems for my family and himself.
“I still try to visit and ask for food, medicine, he also has high blood pressure.
“Since they arrested my husband, until a month ago, they still watched me, they followed me everywhere and said they are the police, security, when I asked them, they said they simply follow the duties of their superiors.
“I also received some help, sharing the spirit of Mr. Thuy’s people and friends, about the international organization, this is the second time that I have been interviewed by an international media organization, like this interview from the BBC.
“Brother Thuy told me not to visit them again if they stop, even if they do not need to attend the trial because it is difficult, expensive and laborious for me and my family, but I will follow him to the end, I trust that my husband is not guilty and will accompany you wherever you need me. “
“I have not met my husband yet”
Image source, Vietnam Times
Pham Chi Dung (left), Nguyen Tuong Thuy (top, right) and Le Huu Minh Tuan (bottom, right) were charged with propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and could face trial in a few months, according to lawyers.
On Tuesday, Ms Bui Hong Loan, wife of journalist Pham Chi Dung, told the BBC from Saigon:
“Until now, my family and I have not met Mr. Dung. Since his arrest, our family has also arranged everything to settle down.
We also received a visit and an encouragement. It was the journalist Nguyen Tuong Thuy, before being arrested, who also asked us and contacted us.
“There are also people who come to his house to contact and visit his grandfather, that is, Mr. Dung’s father, there are people on the city committee, mainly friends, acquaintances of his father and mother.
“By the way, I also want to say that I thank everyone for their care and help, but material help, as in my family, I continue to work and take care of myself, so please save up This help is for other families in need and is from biggest concern.
“Regarding my aspirations from now until Mr. Dung’s trial, I do not want to express my wish at all, because if I do, they will not respond.
“For example, for a visit, if in Ho Chi Minh City they have a policy, they allow them to visit, they will no longer use an excuse to translate Covid-19, now if an exception is proposed, what is the state to recommend this ?
“I myself have made a request to see my husband and they have not resolved it, it has been more than a month and they have not responded.”
“Put your trust“ in God And what awaits the authorities?
Image source, Human rights observer
Many independent journalists and human rights activists in Vietnam were recently arrested, according to various international organizations, including Human Rights Watch.
On Tuesday, two lawyers Nguyen Van Tham and Dang Dinh Manh told the BBC that the clients of the two lawyers in the case would have a message asking about their family’s health, the lawyers especially said. some more details from the client like journalist Pham Chi Dung.
Lawyer Dang Dinh Manh told the BBC:
“I had time to meet with my clients last Thursday, with Dung for about 1 hour, all my clients are in the uniform of the detention center.
“The supervised meeting, the presence of the prison officer in the detention center office at No. 4 Phan Dang Luu, Mr. Dung is still agile in his slightly thin physique and is very alert.
“You also told me that you pray a lot and would like to thank all organizations and individuals, including national and international organizations, as well as family members and individuals for their concern. you and your support.
“We believe that our client, who is likely to be brought to trial in two to a few months, has been prosecuted under strict laws and frameworks, and at best Vietnam should cancel that law to be more consistent with its signed commitments to guarantee the rights of citizens and human rights, as well as respect for freedom, democracy, social criticism and civil society, etc., as Vietnam has said “.
Regarding attorney Nguyen Van Pcs, more on Mr. Pham Chi Dung:
“Like Mr. Thuy, Mr. Dung also sent greetings and messages to his family, but Mr. Dung said that from the day he was arrested and detained, he has always prayed to God for his blessings and peace. His family and all the others.
“For me this is something quite strange because he comes from a family of high ranking communist cadres who serve the regime and he says he has felt safe and at peace since he prayed.
“For me it is clear that he is calm and relaxed in the face of the reality he faces, even when the accusation was handed over to him by the representative of the Prosecutor’s Office, he is very calm, even very indifferent. But he didn’t even read it and gave it to me to show me.
“And when I told him the terms and the sentence, he was prosecuted and he could be offered, he said,” Why do they want to prosecute me and they can’t.
“In particular, what I remember the most is that Mr. Dung told me that he believes that the arrest, prosecution and prosecution of the Vietnamese government and taking it to court here will certainly not benefit the relationship. Vietnam for the world,” he said lawyer Nguyen Van Lanh to the BBC from Saigon.
According to the Vietnamese government and legal protection agencies, Pham Chi Dung and Nguyen Tuong Thuy, President and Vice President of the Association of Independent Journalists of Vietnam, as well as Mr. Le Huu Minh Tuan, editors Vietnam Times, online newspaper owned to this Association, he was arrested and prosecuted for violating Vietnamese law for “Crime of making, storing, distributing or propagating information, documents and articles intended to oppose the Communist State.” Socialist Republic of Vietnam “.
If found guilty by the court, in accordance with Section 2, Article 117 of the current Penal Code, these journalists could face a penalty of 10 to 20 years in prison.
