Ta Minh Tu and Thich Thien Minh call for the release of blogger Ta Phong Tan.
Nhu Ngoc (Danlambao) Translated - Blogger Ta Phong Tan, a member of the Club of Free Journalists sentenced to 10 years in prison, has been on hunger strike since May 15, 2015 to protest against harsh condition and maltreatment in communist prison.
Ta Minh Tu, a younger sister of blogger Ta Phong Tan, confirmed this news with Danlambao after visiting her sister in Prison No 5 in Thanh Hoa on June 03, 2015.
Thus, at press time, Tan has been on her hunger strike for 24 consecutive days with no sign of ending.
Using prisons to get rid of activists
Talking to Danlambao, Tu said her sister's health is now 'very weak.'
After 4 years of imprisonment in harsh condition, Tan suffers many illnesses such as heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, and throat infection.
Tan has stopped taking medication while on hunger strike, causing her illnesses become more severe.
Prison No 5 in Yen Dinh, Thanh Hoa is one of the most notorious prisons in Vietnam. Photo: Facebook Ngo Duy Quyen.
Reportedly, Tan goes on this hunger strike to protest against repressive acts that the communist regime imposes on this female prisoner of conscience.
Tan has been in solitary confinement for several months in a tiny, windowless room. She suffers insomnia due to harsh climate in Thanh Hoa, where the mercury raises to 39C or 102F in sunny days.
Moreover, the prison guards confiscated her portable water tubs for washing and personal hygiene, making her prison life increasingly miserable.
The intentional maltreatment aims to physically, mentally break down the wills of those who dare to speak up against the communist dictatorship.
According to Tu, on May 12, 2015, Tan called home to inform her hunger strike, and the call was immediately cut off by prison guards listening to the conversation. Being too outraged by this brazen behavior, Tan plunged into the wall to protest, but the guards promptly held her back.
Willingly to make hunger strike to death!
On May 13, 2015, the prisoner of conscience Ta Phong Tan began an indefinite hunger strike.
On June 03, 2015, Ta Minh Tu traveled from Bac Lieu to Thanh Hoa to visit her sister, who then has been on a hunger strike for 22 days.
The visitation took place under a close supervision of prison police. Two cameras were setup for recording the entire meeting of the two sisters.
Tu realized her sister’s health has become depleted; therefore, she advised Tan to end the hunger strike in order to reserve her physical strength for the long struggle ahead.
According to Tu, Tan replied that she couldn’t tell when she would end the hunger strike, and the purpose is to protest against abuse and maltreatment of political prisoners. She willingly accepts sacrifice and would continue to be on the hunger strike to death.
During the visitation, blogger Ta Phong Tan also sent her regards and thanks to individuals and organizations at home and abroad for voicing support for her release.
Tu said that although Tan looked physically weak, her moral courage remains very strong.
"If I die, my death is caused by them [prison officials]," blogger Ta Phong Tan told her sister that important message.
During this visitation, prison police wrote a transcript of the conversation of the two sisters and asked Tu to sign for confirmation, but she rejected the request.
Through Danlambao, Tu appeals to the public for support in pressing the communist authorities to release blogger Ta Phong Tan because her life is seriously in danger.
