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Viet Nam: Release two bloggers unjustly jailed for criticizing the government

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This petition is featured in the Amnesty International Book Club alongside this month's book selection, Ru by Kim Thúy, which tells the story of one family's journey from war-torn Viet Nam to a new life in Montreal.

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Take action to help secure the release of two bloggers sentenced to long prison terms in Vietnam after an unfair trial.

Two prominent Vietnamese bloggers, Nguyen Van Hai and Ta Phong Tan, were tried on September 24, 2012 and sentenced to 12 and 10 years’ imprisonment respectively. They were charged with “conducting propaganda” against the state and are considered prisoners of conscience.

Their trial, which only lasted a few hours, did not meet international fair trial standards. Only three witnesses out of nine summoned were present and the lawyers’ speeches were cut short so they were not able to provide a proper defence.

Nguyen Van Hai is reported to have insisted strongly on his innocence and the right to freedom of expression, before being cut off. Friends and supporters of the bloggers, including family members, were harassed, detained and assaulted to prevent them from attending the trial. Extracts of the trial were shown on national television.

Please take action now to help secure the release of Nguyen Van Hai and Ta Phong Tan.

We are targeting our action to the Canadian government, as we believe pressure from countries with a large ex-patriate Vietnamese community may have more influence than directly targeting the Vietnamese authorities. We hope Canada will take note of, and respond to, human rights abuses in Viet Nam.

> Send a message to Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. John Baird expressing your concern at the harsh sentences imposed on Nguyen Van Hai and Ta Phong Tan and at prison conditions in Vietnam.

Thank you.