Monday, April 14, 2014

Vietnam Releases Political Activists by Bob Cummins

     Recently, Vietnam released two political activists.  One of them was 30-year-old Nguyen Tien Trung.  On Saturday, the blogger was released from a prison in southern Ho Chi Minh City, having been sentenced for attempting to "overthrow the people's administration".  "The government said he followed the rules in prison very well, so he was released early", said Nguyen Tu Tu, Trung's father.  The other man was 56-year-old Vi Duc Hoi who was originally a communist part member and became an activist of democracy.  He was sentenced for eight years of jail time or conducting anti-state propaganda.  According to London based Amnesty International, a rights group, he was released on Friday.  "The government said he followed the rules in prison very well, so he was released early", said Nguyen Tu Tu, Trung's father.  Arrests of Vietnamese nonconformists have increased recently.  According to Amnesty International, there are 70 Vietnamese people in detention because they peacefully expressed their opinions.  Other governments have been urging Vietnam to honor international human rights commitments.   In addition to these two men, lawyer Cu Huy Ha Vu was released April 5, after spending three of his ten years in jail and house arrest.  He was arrested also for conducting "anti-state propaganda."
     This just makes me appreciate that I live in a free country.  This is ridiculous that they would arrest people for expressing their opinions.  They're probably just afraid that if they let these people off the hook, more will start expressing their opinions and maybe start an uprising.  They're afraid that they'll lose control over their people.  Some major changes need to happen if they want to be in the UN.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vietnam-frees-two-more-political-activists-165747334.html

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