Worldwide Appeal

VIET NAM: Farmers' union crushed

http://web.amnesty.org/appeals/index/vnm-010507-wwa-eng

Tran Thi Le Hang

Tran Thi Le Hang (also known as Nguyen Thi Le Hong) Picture source Peoples' Democratic Party

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Appeal status: Active
Appeal started: May 2007

Five leading members of the newly formed United Workers-Farmers Organization (UWFO) have been arrested and remain in detention. It is not known if any of them have been charged with any offence. Independent trade unions are banned in Viet Nam.

The UWFO was formed in October 2006 to protect and promote workers’ rights, ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in the capital, Ha Noi, in November. At the summit leaders of the 21 APEC nations discussed economic, political and security challenges facing the region.

UWFO advocates for the right to form and participate in trade and labour unions, independent of government interference. They also call for justice for people whose land and property have been unlawfully confiscated by government officials, and an end to exploitation of cheap labour and dangerous working conditions.

Tran Quoc Hien was arrested in January 2007 in Ho Chi Minh City, as soon as he publicly announced that he had been selected as spokesperson of the UWFO. He is detained in a prison in Ho Chi Minh City. Before his arrest he had signed his support for Bloc 8406, a movement calling for democracy and human rights which was launched in April 2006 with an Internet-based petition. Since then, the Bloc 8406 petition has been signed by around 2000 people throughout Viet Nam.

Founder members of the UWFO Nguyen Tan Hoanh, Tran Thi Le Hang, Doan Huy Chuong and his father Doan Van Dien were arrested just before the APEC summit began.

Please write, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of these five members of UWFO, arrested for exercising their legitimate right to peacefully participate in trade union activities.

Send appeals to:
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
Office of the Prime Minister
Hoang Hoa Tham
Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
Fax (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs): +844 823 1872
Email (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs): banbientap@mofa.gov.vn
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister