Vietnam frees blogger, US call for more releases

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has freed a high-profile blogger who has traveled to the United States, which is pressing for more such dissidents to be released.

"We welcome the decision by Vietnamese authorities to release Ta Phong Tan who decided to travel to the United States after her release from prison," said Terry White, a U.S. Embassy public affairs officer.

"We remain deeply concerned for all persons imprisoned in Vietnam for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms and call on the government to release unconditionally all these prisoners and allow all Vietnamese to express their political views without fear of retribution," he said.

Tan, 47, a former policewoman, was arrested in 2011 for writing about human rights and corruption on her blog and sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of spreading anti-state propaganda in a trial that also convicted fellow blogger Nguyen Van Hai, better known as Dieu Cay.

Over the past two years, several high-profile dissidents have been released and sent into exile in the United States, including Dieu Cay, who was released last October. His case had been mentioned by President Barack Obama.

Human Rights Watch welcomed Tan's release, but said no one should have been jailed for peacefully expressing their views.

"This release continues Vietnam's cynical practice of releasing high-profile dissidents from prison directly into forced exile, with immediate departure from the country being the price of their freedom," Phil Robertson, Asia deputy director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

U.S. officials have said that Vietnam needs to improve its human rights record if it wants to expand economic, trade and military ties with the United States.

Hanoi says that no one is imprisoned in Vietnam for expressing their views, and that only law breakers are punished.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-09-21

Hanoi says that no one is imprisoned in Vietnam for expressing their views, and that only law breakers are punished.

Unless there are laws prohibiting the expression of certain views. Round and round we go.

Here we go again. The US is putting it's nose where it does not belong. For a country with the largest incarceration rate and the longest sentences I am aware of, they need to clean up their own act first.

Off-topic post removed.

Here we go again. The US is putting it's nose where it does not belong. For a country with the largest incarceration rate and the longest sentences I am aware of, they need to clean up their own act first.

Hmmmm....Although I am no fan of the US sticking it's military nose in other countries business, when it comes to fundamental human rights, I support any country with economic sanction-power doing what is right.

Just as I hope any country with economic sanction-power to support Andy Hall if things go pear-shaped for him.

Here we go again. The US is putting it's nose where it does not belong. For a country with the largest incarceration rate and the longest sentences I am aware of, they need to clean up their own act first.

Hmmmm....Although I am no fan of the US sticking it's military nose in other countries business, when it comes to fundamental human rights, I support any country with economic sanction-power doing what is right.

Just as I hope any country with economic sanction-power to support Andy Hall if things go pear-shaped for him.

I couldn't agree more SS! Because the UK and the US stuck their nose into the human rights of fishermen here in the Land of scams, thousands of slaves are being freed.

"...United States, which is pressing for more such dissidents to be released."

No problem. Make a deal with the US. The US release the thousands they have incarcerated around the world held without trial or due course and Vietnam will release some of theirs. Of course, it will be a bit lopsided with the US having multiples of what Vietnam has but, hey, it's a start. Pari Passu, just point the finger back.

"...United States, which is pressing for more such dissidents to be released." No problem. Make a deal with the US. The US release the thousands they have incarcerated around the world held without trial or due course and Vietnam will release some of theirs. Of course, it will be a bit lopsided with the US having multiples of what Vietnam has but, hey, it's a start. Pari Passu, just point the finger back.

I wonder what thousands you are talking about and I wonder if VN gives a crap about any of them.