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Appendix A: Partial List of Political Prisoners in Vietnam, April 29, 2000

Because of lack of access to Vietnam's prisons by independent monitors, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive listing of all individuals currently imprisoned or detained in Vietnam for peaceful expression of their political or religious beliefs. The following listing provides a sampling of representative cases derived from investigations by Human Rights Watch and from secondary sources that provided sufficient information to indicate a high probability that the persons have been imprisoned for their religious or political beliefs. This listing should not be considered to be exhaustive. Human Rights Watch has received many more names of possible political prisoners in Vietnam from family members of detainees, international organizations, and governments that have not been presented here because available information is too scarce to confirm the accounts.

Buddhists

Thich Huyen Quang
Born 1917. Supreme Patriarch of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), which is not recognized by the government. He was first arrested in April 1977 and then again in 1982 for his work with the UBCV. In December 1994 he was arrested again on charges of organizing an UBCV flood relief operation in the Mekong Delta. Suffers from high blood pressure and a lung condition. Currently under pagoda arrest in Nghia Hanh district, Quang Ngai province.

Thich Thien Minh (secular name Huynh Van Ba)
Born 1954. Buddhist monk and member of the UBCV, he was arrested in 1979 and sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of trying to overthrow the government. In 1986 he was sentenced to a second life sentence for attempted escape. Currently detained in K2 disciplinary subcamp of Z30A prison camp, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province. Declared a victim of arbitrary detention by the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in 1997. The U.N. Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance visited him in October 1998 in Z30A prison camp.

Thich Hue Dang (secular name Nguyen Ngoc Dat)
Born 1943, Buddhist monk and UBCV member. On May 28 1992, he was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment for writings about Buddhism and democratic reform. Suffering from diabetes. Reportedly detained in Z30A prison camp, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province; when the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance tried to visit Thich Hue Dang there in October 1998, he was told that he was not in the camp.

Hoa Hao

Le Minh Triet (also known as Tu Triet)
Fifty-eight years old. His house was raided by police in December 1993 after he practiced Hoa Hao Buddhism in his home and set up an altar there. After reporting the incident to a Japanese radio station and international human rights organizations, security police arrested and detained him in Long Xuyen prison in An Giang province. He was later reportedly charged with the crime of disrespect for national law and conspiracy with reactionary forces overseas. His exact whereabouts now are unclear.

Cao Dai

Ms. Le Kim Bien
Fifty-one years old. Arrested in October 1998 after requesting a meeting with U.N. Special Rapporteur for Religious Intolerance, Abdelfattah Amor during his October 1998 visit to Vietnam. She was one of the vice-chairs of the Cao Dai religion in Kien Giang province. Currently serving a two-year sentence in Rach Gia, the provincial capital of Kien Giang province.

Pham Cong Hien (Thien Nhon)
Fifty years old. Arrested in October 1998 after requesting a meeting with U.N. Special Rapporteur for Religious Intolerance, Abdelfattah Amor during his October 1998 visit to Vietnam. One of the vice-chairs of the Cao Dai religion in Kien Giang province. Currently serving a two-year sentence in Rach Gia, the provincial capital of Kien Giang province.

Catholics

Father Nguyen Van De
Roman Catholic priest in Tien Giang province; reportedly a member of the Sacerdotal Maria Movement. He was arrested in October 1987 with ten others and charged by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court with "spreading counterrevolutionary propaganda through religious activities." In August 1990 he was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. He is currently detained in A20 prison camp in Xuan Phuoc, Phu Yen province.

Father John Bosco Pham Minh Tri
Born 1941. Roman Catholic monk and member of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix. Arrested on May 20, 1987 with about sixty other Catholic clergy and lay people for conducting trainings and distributing religious books without government permission. On October 30, 1987 he was convicted, along with twenty-two others, of security offenses, including "conducting propaganda to oppose the socialist regime and undermining the policy of unity and the disruption of public security." He was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment and is now suffering from mental problems. Reportedly detained in Z30A prison camp, Ham Tan, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province.

Brother Benedito Nguyen Viet Huan (Nguyen Thien Phung)
Born 1951. Member of the Catholic Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix. Arrested on June 18, 1987 and sentenced on October 30, 1987 to sixteen years' imprisonment (some reports say twenty) for "conducting propaganda to oppose the socialist regime and undermining the policy of unity and the disruption of public security." In poor health. Currently detained in Z30A prison camp, Ham Tan, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province.

Brother John Euder Mai Duc Chuong, also known as Mai Huu Nghi
Born 1931. Member of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix. Arrested on May 20, 1987 and sentenced on October 30, 1987 to twenty years' imprisonment (some reports say eighteen) for "conducting propaganda to oppose the socialist regime and undermining the policy of unity and the disruption of public security." Previously detained in K-3 prison camp, Long Khanh, Dong Nai Province; currently thought to be detained in Xuan Loc camp, Dong Nai province.

Brother Michael Nguyen Van Thin, also known as Nguyen Minh Quan
Born 1952. Member of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix. Arrested on May 20, 1987 and convicted of "conducting propaganda to oppose the socialist regime and undermining the policy of unity and the disruption of public security." On October 30, 1987, he was sentenced to sixteen years' imprisonment. Reportedly in poor health. Currently detained in Z30A prison camp, Ham Tan, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province.

Lau Si Phuc
Born 1968. Lay believer of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix. Arrested on May 20, 1987 and sentenced to eighteen years' imprisonment on October 30, 1987 for "conducting propaganda to oppose the socialist regime and undermining the policy of unity and the disruption of public security." Reportedly detained in Z30A prison camp, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province.

Nguyen Van Dan
Born 1966. Lay believer of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix. Arrested on May 20, 1987 and sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment on October 30, 1987 for "conducting propaganda to oppose the socialist regime andundermining the policy of unity and the disruption of public security." Reportedly detained in Z30A prison camp, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province.

Le Xuan Son
Born 1966. Lay believer of the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix. Arrested on June 18, 1987 and sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment on October 30, 1987 for "conducting propaganda to oppose the socialist regime and undermining the policy of unity and the disruption of public security." Reportedly detained Z30A prison camp, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province.

Protestant

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy
Arrested in October 1999 during a church meeting in her home in Phu Tho; sentenced on December 27, 1999 to one year in prison for "interfering with an officer doing his duty."

Dinh Troi (ethnic Hre)
Detained for unauthorized religious activities in Quang Nai province.

Vu Gian Thao (ethnic Hmong)
Arrested in July 1997 for unauthorized religious activities and "abusing freedom of religion" in Huoi Xua Hamlet, Muong Lai District, Lai Chau Province. Sentenced to two years' imprisonment and held in Dien Bien Phu prison in Lai Chai province.

Sung Phai Dia (Hmong)
Imprisoned in Dien Bien Phu prison in Lai Chai province under the section of the Penal Code that prohibits "abusing the freedom of religion."

Vang Gia Chua (Hmong)
Arrested in late 1999 in Ha Giang province and imprisoned for unauthorized religious activities.

Sung Va Tung (Hmong)
Imprisoned in Dien Bien Phu prison in Lai Chai province for unauthorized religious activities.

Sung Seo Chinh (Hmong)
Imprisoned in Dien Bien Phu prison in Lai Chai province for unauthorized religious activities.

Sinh Phay Pao (Hmong)
Arrested in late 1999 in Ha Giang province and imprisoned for unauthorized religious activities.

Va Sinh Giay(Hmong)
Arrested in late 1999 in Ha Giang province and imprisoned for unauthorized religious activities.

Phang A Dong (Hmong)
Arrested in late 1999 and imprisoned in C-10 Prison in Dien Bien, Lai Chau province, for unauthorized religious activities.

Vang Sua Giang (Hmong)
Arrested in late 1999 in Ha Giang province and imprisoned for unauthorized religious activities.

Lau Dung Xa (Hmong)
Currently imprisoned for unauthorized religious activities in C-10 Prison in Dien Bien, Lai Chau province.

Political

Nguyen Dinh Huy (alias Ngo Tran Huan, Nguyen Viet Than, Viet Huy)
Born 1932. Founder in 1993 of the. He was arrested on November 17, 1993 and sentenced in April 1995 to fifteen years' imprisonment for allegedly "acting to overthrow the people's government" for having produced political manifestos and other documents. The movement's stated aims were to promote peaceful political change and free elections. In November 1993 the group attempted to organize an international conference in Ho Chi Minh City on development and democracy. Since May 1996 he has been imprisoned in Z30A prison camp, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province. He is reportedly suffering from Parkinson's Disease.

Nguyen Ngoc Tan (alias Pham Tu San, alias Pham Thai)
Born 1921. A founder and first vice-chair of the Movement to Unite the People and Build Democracy. Placed under house arrest in November 1993, detained on February 11, 1994, and sentenced in August 1995 to eleven years' imprisonment. Since May 1996 he has been imprisoned in Z30A prison camp, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province.

Pham Tran Anh
Born 1945. A member of the Movement for a Free Vietnam, he was arrested on July 3, 1977 and charged with "conspiring to overthrow the government." In 1978 he was sentenced to life imprisonment, which was reduced to twenty years' in 1994. Reportedly in poor health, he is currently imprisoned in Z30A prison camp, Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province.

Vo Van Pham
Born 1947. Arrested on July 6, 1991 for allegedly trying to overthrow the government and advocating the establishment of a multi-party system. In July 1991 he was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment. Sentence later reduced by forty-five months. Held in the public security prison, Nghia Ky village, Tu Nghia district.

Pham Hong To (Pham Hong Tho)
Born 1922. Arrested on June 6, 1991 and charged with trying to overthrow the government and meeting with others to plan a multi-party system. In July 1991 he was sentenced to thirteen years imprisonment, a verdict upheld in May 1993, and was held in the public security prison, Nghia Ky village, Tu Nghia district, Nghia Binh province. His current status is unknown.

Le Van Tinh
Born 1941. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996, and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam with twenty-one other PAP members on December 5, 1996. Two PAP members were subsequently released; the others were tried in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. Le Van Triet was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment.

Questions have been raised as to whether the PAP has been guided solely by peaceful advocacy. However, Human Rights Watch has not discovered any evidence that the twenty-one PAP members arrested in 1996 were involved in anything other than peaceful advocacy and organizing for democratic change in Vietnam.

Nguyen Tuan Nam (Nguyen Giang Bao, Lam Son)
Born 1938. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to eighteen years' imprisonment (some reports say nineteen) in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Nguyen Van Trai
Born 1930. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment (some reports say fourteen) in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Tran Cong Minh
Born 1945. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment (some reports say thirteen) in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Ms. Vuong Thi Vieng
Born 1950. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to nine years' imprisonment (some reports say ten) in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Ms. Nguyen Thi Viet Nhan
Born 1955. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to nine years' imprisonment in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Ms. Kim Hoa
Born 1948. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to eight years' imprisonment in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Le Dong Phuong
Born 1960. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment (some reports say thirteen) in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Phan Huu Tri (Dr. Nguyen Minh Tri)
Born 1948. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to eight years' imprisonment in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Nguyen Minh Chi
Born 1958. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to six years' imprisonment in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Thach Duoc
Born 1954. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to eight years'imprisonment in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Nguyen Van Thoi
Born 1937. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to four years' imprisonment in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Dinh Van Lu (Nguyen Van Lu)
Born 1944. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to four years' imprisonment (some reports say five) in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Lam Kien
Born 1933. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to nine years' imprisonment in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Ly Nhat Thanh (Hung-Thanh Hoang Ly)
Born 1956. Member of the People's Action Party (PAP), or Dang Nhan Dan Hanh Dong. Arrested in Thailand on November 28, 1996 and deported from Cambodia to Vietnam on December 5, 1996. Sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment (some reports say fourteen) in a trial in An Giang province on September 8, 1999 for attempting to overthrow the government. (See note above, for Le Van Tinh, about the People's Action Party.)

Doan Van Khanh
Sentenced on March 22, 1999 to one year's imprisonment on charges of disseminating open letters, distorting the truth, talking ill about the regime, and publicizing activities affecting social order and security. As of this writing, Human Rights Watch was not able to confirm his release from prison.

Bui Duc Phu
Sentenced on March 22, 1999 to one year's imprisonment on charges of disseminating open letters, distorting the truth, talking ill about the regime, and publicizing activities affecting social order and security. As of this writing, Human Rights Watch was not able to confirm his release from prison.

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