We, the undersigned Vietnamese intellectuals living outside of Vietnam, share the following views:
1. On March 4, 1999, the Vietnamese communist authorities arrested Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giang on the streets of Hanoi in a brutal and uncivilized manner. They refused to disclose the cause of the arrest and his whereabouts; and thus, did not follow any basic legal due process. The only reported reason for the arrest was Dr. Giang's possession of some documents considered by the authorities as "against the interests of the Vietnamese Communist Party."
2. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giang is a geophysicist of world renown. He has made major contributions to the geological survey of Vietnam and has disseminated his scientific researches among colleagues and students. He represented Vietnam at many world conferences and earned high esteem and respect from the science community.
3. Besides his work in the field of science, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giang has also contributed his thoughts to the debate over how to build a free, democratic and prosperous Vietnamese society. Despite his forthright criticisms of the Vietnamese Communist Party, he has never advocated violence. He has spoken truthfully the conscience of a Vietnamese intellectual facing the present conditions and the grave future of his country.
Dr. Giang's knowledge and moral stand are well-known and highly respected among the intellectual circles inside and outside Vietnam, by both Vietnamese and international friends. Nevertheless, the communist authorities have brutally and illegally detained him without any regards for his fundamental rights as a citizen.
We, the Vietnamese intellectuals living in countries around the world, therefore,:
1. Strongly denounce to the world public opinion the gross human rights violations by the Hanoi authorities. Not only has the Vietnamese communist regime intentionally ignored the most basic legal process, it has also disregarded its own Constitution, of which Article 69 recognizes everyone's right to freedom of opinion. In doing so, Hanoi has acted in direct contravention of the basic freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights respected by all civilized societies, and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory. We call on the world public opinion, and especially on intellectuals all over the world, to exert strong and concrete pressure on Hanoi in demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giang.
2. Resolutely denounce to our compatriots in Vietnam, particularly the intellectuals, the Vietnamese Communist Party's current wave of repression, aiming to silence the voices of the people and especially of the intellectuals. That wave of repression is meant to reinforce the totalitarian rule of the Communist Party and to protect the privileges of a small group of incompetent, corrupt, and exploitative leaders, causing Vietnam to slide further and further into a quagmire of backwardness.
3. Earnestly appeal to intellectuals and all concerned compatriots inside Vietnam - for the sake of our country and our people - to come together and defeat the repressive regime. Let's raise our voices firmly and straightforwardly in the call for the replacement of the current regime with a democracy, just as Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giang and many other intellectuals inside Vietnam have been doing. Our collective and insuppressible voice will wake up our people and the world opinion for a total transformation of Vietnam into a land of freedom and democracy.
4. Are determined to use all of our strength and resources to campaign the world to stand on the side of the intellectuals and conscientious people in Vietnam in the struggle for a free and democratic nation.
To the intellectuals and compatriots inside the country, we pledge our cooperation and dedication. Given the heavy task of our compatriots inside Vietnam, standing up and facing the communist regime, we must, at the very least, do our best to campaign the whole world to support that cause.
We shall fulfill our duty.
March 14, 1999
(This Statement has been circulated over the Internet and signed by thousands of Vietnamese around the world).