The Network of Vietnamese Bloggers - Today, August 8, 2013, Vietnam’s Department of Security called the family of journalist and blogger Doan Trang to announce a “working session” with Mrs. Bui Thi Thien Can, a 73-year-old a retired teacher and the mother of blogger Doan Trang.
The reason for the “working session” is relevant to recent activities of Doan Trang, a leading figure of the Network of Vietnamese Bloggers who has joined a few other bloggers to submit the Statement 258 to various international organizations such as OHCHR, Human Rights Watch, SEAPA, Freedom House, Forum-Asia, etc.
Statement 258 is the unified voice of more than 100 Vietnamese bloggers to express their views on the role and responsibility of the State of Vietnam on human rights situation in the country in order to demonstrate a credible commitment for its candidacy on the upcoming U.N. Human Rights Council election. Specifically, it calls the State of Vietnam and the U.N. Human Rights Council to review Article 258 of the Penal code of Vietnam, which goes against the fundamental rights declared by the United Nations on human rights.
The act of separation and harassment aimed at a few individuals and or their relatives is an assault to all those who have signed the said Statement and participated in activities calling for an improvement of human rights in Vietnam.
The harassment aimed at a 73-year-old, kind and gentle woman like Mrs. Bui Thi Thien Can is an unconscionable, immoral and illegal action. Blogger Doan Trang is an adult who is responsible for her own actions before the laws as a citizen.
The “working session” with Mrs. Bui Thi Thien Can scheduled by the Department of Security is the answer of the State of Vietnam to the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations and international human rights organizations. This attitude will contribute to the creation of negative images of Vietnam during the campaign to become a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 session.
The Network of Vietnamese Bloggers urgently sends this message to all Vietnamese bloggers, the compatriots at home and abroad, and all international organizations that received the Statement 258, calling for supports for blogger Doan Trang and her family members.
Website: http://tuyenbo258.blogspot.com
Email: tuyenbo258@gmail.com
Translated by Như Ngọc (Danlambao)
