Increase in Human Rights Violations in Vietnam Since February

There is increasing human rights violations in Vietnam, according to the World Movement of Democracy, a global network of democrats and human rights advocates.

In its recent email list, it lists the arrests and interrogations of democracy, human rights and religious advocates since February this year.

They include Buddhist youth leader Le Cong Cau, who is on house arrest, since March 17; human rights lawyers, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan, who were arrested in Hanoi and charged under article 88 of the criminal code, which bans propaganda against the government; activists Bach Ngoc Duong and Pham Van Coi in February; Catholic priest and human rights advocate Father Nguyen Van Ly’s, whose house was raided and charged under article 88; Head of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam Youth Commission Thich hien Minh, currently under police interrogations; Vietnam Progression Party members Nguyen Binh Thanh and Hoang Thi Dao, who were arrested in February; Lawyer Le Quoc Quan, who was and charged under article 79 of the criminal code for “activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s government”; Buddhist monk, Thich Chi Thang, under interrogation.

These are just the recent few advcoates who have been harrassed and imprisoned.

Others include Buddhist dissident Thich Huyen Quang, Patriarch of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, and the UBCV’s Deputy Leader Thich Quang Do.

Currently under house arrest, they have both spent more than 25 years in detention.

Thich Quang Do is held in isolation at Thanh Minh Zen Monastery. He was denied travel to Norway for the Rafto Human Rights Award in November 2006. The Rafto Human Rights representatives who came to Vietnam to hand him the award personally, were also arrested this March, then they tried to do so.

Vietnam, like China, remains a one party Communist state, despite economic liberal reforms, as early as 1986 , according to the US-ASEAN Business Council.

The country, which hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in November 2006, was also visited by the American President, George Bush. It joined the World Trade Organization as its 150th member on 11th January 2007.

Despite pursuing a more open economy, greater pursuit of material advancement and economic achievement, the human rights record of the authoritarian regime remains dismal after 20 years.

The world needs to continue to exert pressure on the Vietnamese government to reduce or stop its human rights abuse… …

Has the situation in Zimbawe reached a turning point?

According to a recent BBC news report, Zimbabwe has reached a ‘turning point’ where “Zimbabweans were “losing their fear” despite the violence carried out against them by the security forces.”

This comes from US ambassador in Zimbawe, Christopher Dell, who said that the average policeman is increasingly reluctant to carry out attacks on human rights activists and Opposition.

On March 11,after the government imposed a ban on political rallies, Zimbabwean riot police broke up a “Save Zimbabwe” rally in Harare using tear gas and water cannons, and assaulted rally leaders and participants. As many as 100 activists were arrested. Amongst those hurt in the rally include Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who sustained a head injury, Gift Tandare, a young activist, who was shot dead at the rally, and the chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly, Lovemore Madhuku, injured with a broken arm.

MDC spokesman, MP Nelson Chamisa claimed he was severely beaten on Sunday as he tried to leave the country to travel to the planned meetings of EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) officials.

According to another BBC report, a statement issued on behalf of Mr Tsvangirai says that groups of youths from Zanu-PF and officials of the Central Intelligence Organisation have been targeting known MDC activists. It also said that another 35 MDC members - on top of the 50 injured when police broke up the rally nine days ago - have been taken to hospital with fractures and severe bruising.Six other had gunshot wounds.

With the country sinking into political crisis and the Zimbawe government threatening to expel ambassadors from external fierce criticisms, what other efforts are necessary for the dictatorial regime to fall?

Perhaps, the answer lies with the people themselves. If Zimbaweans begin to stop co-operating with the regime, then it is only a matter of time that Robert Mugabe may step down…

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References

Zimbabwe reaching ‘turning point’, BBC, 21 March 2007, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6473579.stm

‘Crackdown’ on Zimbabwe activists, 20 March 2007, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6469491.stm

Anti- War Protest in Sydney - The 4th Anniversary of the Iraqi War & World Wide Protests…

The organisers of the Anti- War March in Sydney, Stop The War Coalition, estimated a turnout of about 1000.

The first few speakers to gave their speeches before the march at Town Hall, includes aboriginal female activist Jenny Munro who lambasted the Howard government for depriving the rights of the original inhabitants. Federal Greens senator Kerry Nettle who opposed the Iraqi war in Parliament before it started, also related her Palestine visit a month ago. She talked about the Occupation and the Iraqi War and linked it to the result of the American’s disastrous Middle Eastern foreign policy. Other speakers include President of the New South Wales Council of Civil Liberties David Burnie and Maritime Workers Union spokesman Paul Garrett.

After the speeches, the march proceeded promptly as protestors chanted cheers such as “Troops out Now” and “Bring Hicks Home”. The peaceful protest went on smoothly and ended at Belmore Park, with more speeches and performances.

In America, according to news reports, similar anti- war protests are held across the country. In Washington, DC, a news wire reported that a private estimate of perhaps 10,000 to 20,000 anti-war protestors marched from Potomac River to the Pentagon despite the freezing windy weather. They were addressed by various critics including anti- war activist, Cindy Sheehan.

Protests across US are also held in other cities such as San Francisco, New York, and Portland Oregon. According to Aaron Clark from Associated Press, 3000 protestors are estimated to have closed down Market Street while in Portland, organisers estimated 15000. In New York, more than 1000 demonstrated outside a park near the United Nations headquarters. In New York, the march consists of union members, representatives of the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow-PUSH Coalition and war veterans with anti-war protesters.

World-wide, anti- war protests were held in Europe and parts of Asia. In Europe, protests are held in Greece and Turkey. In Athens, Greece, 1,000 people are estimated to have marched from central Syntagma Square to the US embassy.

In Turkey, Istanbul, two separate demonstrations are held attracting about 3,000 protestors. More than 2,000 of the anti-war activists protested on the Asian side of the city, bisected by the Bosphorus strait while about 1,000 demonstrators, held another protest in a main square on the European side of Istanbul.

The anti- war march in Spain, Madrid, was estimated to be 4 km from central Cibeles Plaza to Atocha square. While the organisers estimated an attendance of 400,000, news report cited eyewitnesses as a quarter less than the figure. The rally was joined by Spanish movie director, Pedro Almodovar. News report put up estimates of 2,000 in Barcelona and 500 in Seville in Spain. The country recorded one of the larger major anti-war protests prior to and during the war, with demonstrations in Barcelona and Madrid, seeing between 1 million and 2 million people each. The 2004 election in Spain saw the victory of Socialist party leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who brought Spanish troops in Iraq back after Popular Party prime minister Jose Maria Aznar, who strongly supported the war, was voted out of office.

In Asia, about 2000 demonstrators marched in Tokyo against the Iraqi War and the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s attempt to revise the pacifist constitution. There are still more than 200 Japanese troops in Kuwait who fly supplies and manpower into Iraq on behalf of the US-led coalition and the United Nations.

As one of the demonstrators in Sydney, I witnessed first hand the importance of public protests in giving ordinary people a voice. It also helps governments understand ground sentiments on controversial issues.

As far as the Iraqi conflict is concerned, it appears that there is a sizeable amount of Opposition to the war, whether in US or around the world. The Bush Administration and other governments with troops in Iraq is facing stronger dissenting voices at home. In Australia, for example, the imprisonment of David Hicks in Guantanamo Bay has been met with severe criticisms and seen a drop in opinion polls towards the Howard government. The Labour party, which is the current second largest Opposition party, is promising to withdraw troops in Iraq, if elected into power.

The effects of protests may not be as immediate as it seems sometimes. However, as the situation in Spain, and the Republican party losing both the House of Representatives and the Senate has demonstrated, people power can often make a difference.

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References

War Brings Out Protesters Around World, Activists Stage Rallies In U.S., Europe, March 17, 2007, Associated Press

Iraq War’s Anniversary Sparks Protests, March 19, 2007, Aaron Clark, Associated Press

War Protests Continue, Led By NYC, Weekend Anti-War Demonstrations Continue As Hundreds March Through Manhattan, March 18, 2007, Associated Press

Anti-war protesters throng Madrid, Associated Press, Monday, March 19, 2007

Anti-Iraq war demonstration in Istanbul, Associated Press, March 17, 2007

Anti-war demonstration in Japan, 18 March 2007, AFP