Media Legal Defense Network » Support statements

Focus Issue: Le Cong Dinh SEAMLDN condemns sentence

Administrator — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:09:58 +0000

Le Cong Dinh (far right) in court with other dissidents on trial (Reuters)

21 January 2010 — The Southeast Asia Media Legal Defense Network is shocked and disappointed at the five- year prison sentence and a further three-year house arrest imposed on our Vietnamese colleague Le Cong Dinh. The charges he stands accused of amount to no more than the promotion of freedom of expression and democracy, universal values recognised by the United Nations as well as by ASEAN, both of which Vietnam is a member of. We call for his unconditional release. Le Cong Dinh was among the few lawyers willing to defend cases such as the one now brought against him, and his imprisonment will send a chill across the Vietnamese community of writers and bloggers. A powerful defender of their rights now languishes in prison. Our sympathies are with Le Cong Dinh and his family.

For earlier statement by the South East Asia Media Legal Defense Network after Dinh’s arrest in June 2009, see full statement here.

Vietnam: U.S. Rep. Cao asks Congress to join State Dept’s call for release

Administrator — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:53:19 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C., 19 June 2009 – U.S. Rep. Joseph Cao (R-La.) called on the U.S. House of Representatives to join with the U.S. State Department in calling for the release of Le Cong Dinh and other prisoners in detention by Vietnamese authorities. Rep. Cao said that Mr. Dinh’s arrest contradicted Vietnam’s own “alleged commitment to internationally accepted criteria of human rights.” The text of Rep. Cao’s statement is here.

Vietnam: Article 19 demands ‘unconditional’ release of Dinh

Administrator — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:52:38 +0000

LONDON, 17 June 2009 — ARTICLE 19, the independent human rights organisation that works globally to protect and promote freedom of expression, has called for Vietnamese attorney Le Cong Dinh to be “immediately and unconditionally” released from police custody. According to its statement: “Dinh is a respected Vietnamese lawyer and human rights defender who has, in the past, defended Vietnamese pro-democracy activists, bloggers and labour rights activists.” For the full text of its statement of support, please read here. For more information, please contact Toby Mandel, Senior Legal Counsel, at a19law@hfx.eastlink.ca

Vietnam: U.S. State Dept calls for Dinh’s release

Administrator — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:09:43 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C., 15 June 2009 — The U.S. Department of State issued a statement in support of the unconditional and immediate release of lawyer Le Cong Dinh.

Its statement in full reads: “The United States is deeply concerned by the arrest by Vietnamese authorities of lawyer Le Cong Kinh on June 13 on charges of ‘distributing propaganda against the state.’ Vietnamese officials have stated that Dinh was arrested because of his defense of pro-democracy activists and his use of the Internet to express his views. Mr. Dinh is a well-respected member of the Vietnamese and international legal communities, and a former Fulbright scholar. No individual should be arrested for expression the right to free speech, and no lawyer should be punished because of the individuals they choose to counsel. Vietnam’s arrest of Mr. Dinh contradicts the government’s own commitment to internationally accepted standards of human rights and to the rule of law. We urge the Government of Vietnam to release Mr. Dinh immediately and unconditionally, as well as all other prisoners in detention for peacefully expressing their views.”

Vietnam: SEAPA urges fairness, transparency in trial for rights advocate

Administrator — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:51:45 +0000

BANGKOK, 16 June 2009 — The Southeast Asia Press Alliance issued statement in which it expresses “deep concern” over the Vietnamese authorities’ arrest of Le Cong Hinh, “an established lawyer, writer, and defender of free expression and human rights.”

According to SEAPA’s statement, ”Mr. Dinh’s arrest is a simultaneous attack on two sectors vital to democratic reform in Vietnam or any society. It sends a chilling message not only to other writers and citizens who peacefully advocate for change, but also to those in the legal community who would defend the Vietnamese people’s right to free expression.”

SEAPA, which represents media and journalist organizations throughout Southeast Asia, called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Dinh and urged the Vietnamese government to ensure “transparency and fairness” in the consideration of the charges brought against the attorney, by giving him access to his lawyers, and allowing independent media access to any and all future proceedings. SEAPA also asked that the international legal community be allowed to monitor all proceedings against Mr. Dinh.

Vietnam: RSF calls for release of attorney Dinh

Administrator — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:09:42 +0000

15 June 2009

Reporters Without Borders today called on Vietnam to immediately release the lawyer Le cong Dinh, author of many pro-democracy articles and a known human rights activist, who was arrested two days ago. The 41-year-old lawyer, who has defended several bloggers and free expression activitists, is facing a long prison sentence for his articles and commentaries in the Vietnamese press and online. More