Bloggers behind bars: Vietnam’s war on dissent

 

By Catherine Barton, AFP

 

HANOI – Secretly moved from prison to prison, held in solitary confinement, their families subject to constant harassment — Vietnam’s activist bloggers say they are treated like international terrorists.

Le Quoc Quyet (R), younger brother of democracy activist lawyer Le Quoc Quan, among worshipers during a mass at a Catholic church in support of Quan. Photo courtesy: AFP

While Vietnam insists it has no political prisoners — and therefore will not comment on the subject — rights groups estimate hundreds of activists are locked up for speaking out against one-party communist rule, including at least 46 jailed this year.

Activists say that while conditions are no picnic for common criminals, prisoners of conscience face particularly harsh treatment behind bars.

Prisons have a separate area for political prisoners where “anything can happen and no one knows,” said Nguyen Tri Dung, the son of high-profile blogger Dieu Cay who is serving 12 years for anti-state propaganda.

Like many dissidents, Dieu Cay — whose real name is Nguyen Van Hai — refused to plead guilty.

Now his relatives believe he is being punished in prison for this show of defiance.

Since he was detained in 2008 on an initial charge of tax evasion, Dieu Cay has been moved 10 times between different prisons, according to his family, who said they are never notified in advance.

The imprisoned dissident, whose case has been raised by US President Barack Obama, faces constant pressure to sign a confession as well as visitor restrictions, his relatives said.

His son told AFP that he too had been repeatedly detained by authorities — always for less than 24 hours — to disrupt his studies and prevent him sitting his exams.

Using vague, trumped up administrative charges is a way for authorities to warn activists to cease their campaigning, experts say.

Read the full story by Catherine Barton from AFP.