Paris, 16 March 1999
For immediate release
The World Association of Newspapers has called on Vietnam to release dissident writer and scientist Nguyen Thanh Giang, whose criticism of the Communist Party has led to constant harassment by the authorities.
"This is not the first time Mr Giang has been harassed for peacefully advocating free expression of opinion in Vietnam," WAN said in a letter to Vietnamese President Duc Luong. "This arrest and the previous intimidation of Mr Giang constitute a flagrant breach of numerous international conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which Vietnam has signed."
Mr Giang, a distinguished writer and geologist who has written several articles critical of the Communist Party, was arrested on 4 March for possessing "anti-socialist propaganda." He has not been seen since his arrest and no formal charges against him have been made public.
"We respectfully but strongly urge you to order the immediate release of Mr Giang and to ensure that this writer continues his work unharassed," said the letter to the Vietnamese President, signed by WAN President Bengt Braun.
The United States has also demanded the release of the 63-year-old Mr Giang, prompting the Vietnamese government to denounce what it termed interference in the country's internal affairs.
The Paris-based WAN, the global association of the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 15,000 newspapers and its membership includes 57 national newspaper publisher associations, individual newspaper executives in 90 countries, 17 news agencies and seven regional press groups.
Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN
Larry Kilman
Director of Communications
World Association of Newspapers
25 rue d'Astorg
75008 Paris France
Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00
Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48
E-mail: lkilman@wan.asso.fr
Letter to Tran Duc Luong from WAN
His Excellency President Duc Luong
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Hanoi, Vietnam
Fax: +84 4 823 1872
15 March 1999
Your Excellency,
I am writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers, which represents over 15,000 publications in more than 90 countries, to express our serious concern over the arrest of the distinguished writer and geologist Nguyen Thanh Giang.
According to reports, Nguyen Thanh Giang was arrested by police on the streets of Hanoi on 4 March 1999 for possessing "anti-socialist propaganda". We understand that he has not been seen since his arrest and that no formal charges against him have been made public.
We understand that this is not the first time Mr. Giang has been harassed by the authorities for peacefully advocating free expression of opinion in Vietnam. This arrest and the previous intimidation of Mr. Giang for his criticism of the Communist Party constitute a flagrant breach of numerous international conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which Vietnam has signed. Article 19 of this Covenant clearly states: "Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds".
We respectfully but strongly urge you to order the immediate release of Mr. Giang and to ensure that this writer continues his work unharassed.
I look forward to receiving your comments on these cases.
Yours Sincerely,
Bengt Braun
President
Web site: http://www.wan-press.org