Following is a letter of Australian Senator JULIAN F STEFANI to the Vietnamese Prime Minister urging the immediate release of dissident Ha Si Phu.
15 June 2000
The Prime Minister of Vietnam
The Honourable Phan van Khai VP
Thu Tuong Hoang Hoa Tham
Hanoi, VIETNAM
Dear Prime Minister
I am conscious that the Vietnamese Government is being encouraged to adopt a more democratic system of government, which will provide greater freedoms and better consideration for the human and civil rights for all Vietnamese people.
I am aware that Dr Ha Sy Phu, who has expressed various views and had been imprisoned. He is currently under house arrest because under the Decree 31/CP it is alleged that he poses a possible security threat. This directive is an open violation of the Constitution of your country. Given its destructive role on society, this directive should be abolished immediately.
It is the view of many free thinking people around the world that individual expression of views is not considered a threat to the Vietnamese government which is striving to achieve greater democracy and economic development.
In writing this letter to you, I am expressing strong support for the views held by many of my Australian constituents who were born in Vietnam and who retain a strong pride in and affinity with their motherland.
Of particular interest to the many Australians of Vietnamese origin, are the issues of justice; the release of all prisoners of conscience; as well as the freedom of the press which are all part of the fundamental basis for a free and democratic society
Therefore, in accordance with the standards and the international code of practice adopted by the World Association of Newspapers, and in the spirit of fairness, justice and compassion, Vietnamese Australians also believe that human rights and freedoms should be accorded to Dr Ha Sy Phu and all incarcerated journalists and other prisoners of conscience.
I seek your intervention in this matter on behalf of the many thousands of peace loving Vietnamese people who have settled in South Australia and who are making outstanding contributions to our society.
I would appreciate your personal consideration to these issues.
Yours sincerely
HON COMM JULIAN F STEFANI OAM, MLC