Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Independence-Liberty-Happiness
To: Party and State Leaders
The People’s Court of Hanoi
From: Do, Thi Cu
Wife of Colonel Pham Que Duong
Learning that the People’s Court is about to try my husband, Colonel Pham Que Duong with the espionage charge, despite his ailing conditions, I feel compelled to send this letter to all of you.
I had previously sent 3 letters to the Party and state leaders, but have yet to receive a word of response. Where do I go to seek justice? The situation brings back to my mind the lyrics of a song: “I call upon God, God did not hear me. I call upon the Earth, Earth did not respond. I call upon the Party; the Party turns a deaf ear. Where do I go to find justice?”
My name is Do Thi Cu. I am 62 years of age and have 38 years with the Party. When I was still active with the lumber union of Vietnam, Mr. Nong Duc Manh was an assistant to the forestry service of Thai Nguyen province. He and I are of approximate age; we have the same tenure with the Party. Now, one of us is a head of state, the other is a second class citizen with a husband being wrongly accused. I sent a letter to Mr. Nong to seek justice; he did not even bother to respond.
I am a simple woman. I’m not strong in litigating, but I know my husband well. My husband can never be a spy. He joined the revolution way before 1945 and is rewarded with senior pension for his service during the pre-revolution years. Through various projects and different positions, he was promoted to a high ranking officer position with the people’s army. If he is a spy, then the effort to train cadre of the party for more than half a century is down the drain. Accusing him of espionage is to dishonor the proud history of the people’s army, to humiliate the revolutionary history of Vietnam.
I can understand your anger at Mr. Duong for his candid, bold statement without regard that the mistakes were committed by his superiors. But, to accuse him of espionage is mean.
As a wife, I cannot keep quiet knowing that my husband is in danger. That would be wrong of me. My question is, for which country are you accusing my husband of spying for? Is it the U.S? England? France? Or Germany? Or is it Russia, or China? Please be specific.
The statement/announcement from the Office of Thoughts/Culture about the charge of espionage on my husband is very mean, it is full of ambiguity, not to mention unlawful.
It was said that the search of my home turned up 902 documents, yet the type of documents was not clearly stated. What spy would be foolish enough to keep 902 documents in the house? In fact, those are written documents on democracy, on historic and famous sites, on the hero of yesteryear and today as well as letters of complaint from people asking for help. My husband is a media man and a history researcher. He needs documents to do his research.
Would a spy be naďve enough to keep receipt of payment at home? I don’t know how much money my husband had at time of arrest, but the amount of $2,001 dollars the police confiscated from me in Saigon was my savings throughout many years. On my first and also last trip to Saigon because of my age, I converted my savings into dollars for shopping convenience. I had filed numerous requests to ask that the money be returned to me so I can take care of my newborn grandchild, but my request was ignored. Once again, I proclaim that the money is mine, it is not spy money. To use such money to condemn my husband of espionage is cruel, unjust and pure evil.
What spy would loudly voice up his opinion to comment on the mistakes of the Party and the state? A spy would keep a low profile, stay undercover and make a front so the police and state leaders would trust him. A spy would not publicly state his political opinion. Therefore, to accuse my husband of spying is unjust, unfounded.
My husband does not share the same political opinion with the Party and the State. He protests the Party elimination of General Tran Do. He returned his Party identification card. He filed an application to form an anti-corruption association. He speaks against the arrests, confiscation of books and publications as well as other violations of human rights of the state. His actions upset the state’s leaders, but his actions are not illegal. Anger can be dealt with in many different ways such as debate and criticism; arrest, condemnation and unjust accusation should not be used.
I strongly protest your accusation that my husband is a spy.
I ask that the trial of my husband be an open one as provided by the law so everybody can attend. The domestic and international press should be allowed to attend and report on it. The trial should not be closed to public as the previous ones, for that is unfair for the accused. To quietly try and condemned someone of an unfounded crime is a crime. That is unacceptable. An unfair trial will not earn respect from anyone, will convince no one.
I am asking the state leaders to consider my letter.
I am asking the people’s court of Hanoi to consider my letter
Written in Hanoi, March 01, 2004
Do Thi Cu
Wife of Colonel Pham Que Duong
Address: 37 Ly Nam De, Hanoi
Copy to:
Office of the General Secretary of the Politburo
Office of the President
Office of the Prime Minister
Office of the Parliament
KSNDTC Institute
People’s Court of Vietnam National Front
Veterans’ Association
Media/Press