[huridocs-tech] Viet Nam: Rights denied in cyberspace

News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International
AI INDEX: ASA 41/040/2003     25 November 2003

(26 November 2003, Hong Kong) At least 10 people in Viet Nam have been
arrested and some sentenced to long prison terms for using the Internet
whilst criticising the government or sharing information with overseas
Vietnamese groups. Amnesty International today criticized the Vietnamese
government for using national security as a pretext to stifle freedom of
expression and other human rights in cyberspace.

"In Viet Nam, pushing the 'send' button can result in dire consequences
including years in prison and family and friends put under 24 hour
surveillance," warned Amnesty International in a report published today.

"Amnesty International regards all those detained solely for the peaceful
expression of their opinions as prisoners of conscience and calls for
their immediate and unconditional release," the organization says in the
report:  "Socialist Republic of Viet Nam: Freedom of expression under
threat in cyberspace".
(View the report online at
http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabHNwaa2sgSbd5AQwb/ )

Brothers Nguyen Vu Viet, Nguyen Truc Cuong and their sister Nguyen Thi
Hoa, whose prison sentences are due to be appealed on 28 November 2003,
were arrested for having provided information via Internet and telephone
to overseas Vietnamese groups about religious freedoms in Viet Nam, and
the situation of their uncle, long-standing critic of the government's
religious policies, Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly, who is himself a
prisoner of conscience.

"The vindictive response of the authorities to the activities of these
three young people, including the denial of their rights to freedom of
expression and privacy by highly intrusive surveillance and monitoring of
Internet messages and mobile phone conversations, are a serious breach of
human rights that are enshrined in Viet Nam's own Constitution,"
emphasized Amnesty International.

"Why are the Vietnamese authorities so threatened by the freedom of
information and exchange of ideas that the Internet makes available?",
asked the organization. "How can the sharing of information, which is
already in the public domain and criticising the government, be
interpreted as 'espionage' resulting in lengthy prison sentences?"

In December 2002, cyber-dissident and businessman, Nguyen Khac Toan, was
charged with 'espionage' and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for
passing information via e-mail to overseas groups about recent
demonstrations and for assisting farmers writing petitions and protesting
to the authorities about corruption and land confiscation.

"The Vietnamese government appears unwilling to recognize that the
Internet can only be a tool for development and prosperity if the right to
freedom of expression and information is respected fully in both law and
practice,"  Amnesty International concluded.


Background

Amnesty International is increasingly concerned about human rights in
cyberspace for people in Viet Nam, in particular the fundamental rights to
freedom of expression, information, peaceful assembly and the right to
privacy. The Internet has provided people critical of the government with
more opportunities to peacefully express their opinions. However, the
relative ease with which dissenting voices can be traced in cyberspace,
combined with the absence of privacy protection, has increased their risk
of arrest and prosecution.

Whilst recognizing the Vietnamese government's legitimate responsibility
to protect its citizens, Amnesty International believes that national
security should not be used as a pretext to stifle criticism, freedom of
expression, and human rights generally, in cyberspace.

In the recent crackdown on dissent in Viet Nam, at least 10 individuals
have been arrested for exchanging e-mails with contacts in the Vietnamese
diaspora, posting articles critical of the government on the Internet and
expressing dissenting opinions. Six of these cyber-dissidents have been
sentenced to long prison sentences after unfair trials. Others include
well-known dissident Dr Nguyen Dan Que, who was arrested in March, 2003
and has been denied all access to his family or lawyer to this day. He has
reportedly also been charged with espionage but has not yet been tried.

In today's report, Amnesty International outlines the history and
development of the Internet in Viet Nam and the parallel development of
control mechanisms over those who use it. The report details the cases of
10 cyber-dissidents making reference to international standards of fair
trial and protections of freedom of expression and related rights which
Vietnamese authorities are obliged under international law to uphold.

The report examines international human rights standards in relation to
rights associated with the Internet and refers to emerging international
principles specifically related to human rights in cyberspace.

Also on 26 Nov, Amnesty International launched its new Asia-Pacific
Website, a virtual base for campaigning in the Asia and Pacific region.
Using this new website, the organization will reach out to a far larger
Asian audience, posting regular reports and campaigning materials and
attracting new members and supporters across the region, from Sri Lanka to
the Pacific.

The new website will report on human rights violations across the region
including launch postings and articles on arrests for using the Internet
in Vietnam, rape in police custody in Sri Lanka, beatings of Indonesian
asylum seekers by the Malaysia authorities and executions in China. The
site includes a call for action and shows Amnesty International membership
in the region campaigning to defend their rights, and the rights of
others.

Launched initially in English language, the site will in future have
postings in regional languages.

To view Amnesty International's new Asia-Pacific Website please go to:
http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabHNwaa2sgTbd5AQwb/


****************************************************************

Help free Le Chi Quang, imprisoned for internet use! Take action by
visiting http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabHNwaa2sgUbd5AQwb/ (English)
http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabHNwaa2sgVbd5AQwb/ (French)
http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabHNwaa2sgWbd5AQwb/ (Spanish)

For the full text of the report, please go to: "Socialist Republic of Viet
Nam: Freedom of expression under threat in cyberspace"
http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabHNwaa2sgXbd5AQwb/

View all documents on Viet Nam at
http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabHNwaa2sgYbd5AQwb/

****************************************************************
You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main
text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting
Amnesty International and this footer remain intact. Only the
list subscription message may be removed.
****************************************************************



========== HURIDOCS-Tech listserv ==========
Send mail intended for the list to <huridocs-tech@hrea.org>.
Archives of the list can be found at:
http://www.hrea.org/lists/huridocs-tech/markup/maillist.php
To subscribe to the list, send a message to <majordomo@hrea.org>,
with the following text in the message: subscribe huridocs-tech
To unsubscribe from the list, send a message to <majordomo@hrea.org>,
with the following text in the message: unsubscribe huridocs-tech
If you have problems (un)subscribing, contact <owner-huridocs-tech@hrea.org>.