We, the undersigned lawyers living and practicing in Europe and America, hereby unanimously declare in the face of the current repression campaign aimed at the oppositionists inside Vietnam:

-         Our revulsion and outrage at the way the authorities in Hanoi have perniciously used procedural laws to arbitrarily arrest Attorneys Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan and accused them of anti-government activities in spite of the fact that these two attorneys have done nothing more than exercising their universal human rights as stipulated in international conventions to which Hanoi is committed to respect and implement since 1982;

-         Our strong denunciation of the total lack of human rights currently obtained in Vietnam and severe condemnation of the way Hanoi is governing the country, which is dictatorial, uncivilized and opposed to progress, allowing for brutal repression of dissidents despite the fact that they only work peacefully for the democratization of Vietnam;

-         Our demand that Hanoi cease at once the current wave of repression characterized by world public opinion as “the worst in 20 years,” and that Hanoi release at once the following who have been arrested or held under detention (this is only an incomplete list):

Father Nguyen Van Ly, Attorney Nguyen Van Dai, Attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan, Attorney Nguyen Bac Truyen, Dr. Le Nguyen Sang, Journalist Nguyen Vu Binh, Journalist Huynh Nguyen Dao, Mr. Tran Quoc Hien, Mr. Nguyen Tan Hoanh, Ms. Tran Thi Le Hang (aka Tran Thi Le Hoa), Mr. Doan Huy Chuong (aka Hoang Huy Chuong), Mr. Doan Van Dien, Mr. Le Ba Triet, Nr. Nguyen Tuan, Mr. Le Trung Hieu, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Quang, Mr. Pham Ba Hai, Mr. Truong Quoc Huy, Mr. Vu Hoang Hai, Mr. Vuong Quoc Hoai, Ms. Duong Thi Tron, Mr. Trinh Quoc Thao, Mr. Truong Van Suong, and Mr. Vu Hoang Hai.

 Washington DC, March 14, 2007

First Signatories:

Nguyen Tuong Ba (USA)

Tran Nguyen Bong (Canada)

Tran Thanh Hiep (France)

Doan Thanh Liem (USA)

Hoang Co Long (USA)

Ngo Van Quang (USA)

Phan Van Song (France)

Le Dinh Thong (France)

Vo Nhan Tri (France)

Vu Ngoc Truy (Canada)