Father Ly on trial in 2007
Posted on 07/05/2009 4:32:01 AM PDT by NYer
.- On Wednesday 37 members of the U.S. Senate called on President Nguyen Minh Triet to release Fr. Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly, a longtime human rights advocate.
The bipartisan group of Senators, led by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) cited “serious flaws” concerning the priest’s arrest, trial and imprisonment. They asked the Vietnamese president to facilitate Father Ly’s “immediate and unconditional release from prison” and to allow him to return home and work without restrictions on his “internationally guaranteed” freedom of expression, association or movement.
Fr. Ly, now 63 years old, has been jailed three times since the 1970s for a total of 14 years, Agence Free Presse says. His four-hour trial in 2007 on charges of spreading propaganda against the Communist government led to an eight-year sentence.
During the trial the priest was physically restrained, gagged, and prohibited from defending himself, actions which drew condemnation from diplomats and human rights groups.
Jared Genser, president of the prisoners of conscience group Freedom Now, said his group was “strongly encouraged” by the Senators’ efforts.
“It is our hope that the Government of Vietnam will heed their call and bring to an end the continued and unjust imprisonment of Father Ly,” he said.
A Freedom Now press release described Fr. Ly’s detention as a “bellwether” for human rights in Vietnam.
Freedom Now executive director Maran Turner told AFP there has been “further repression” by the Vietnamese government, “more now than in quite some time.”
“At this time we feel they are backsliding,” she said.
According to AFP, Sens. John Kerry and John McCain, both Vietnam War veterans and former presidential candidates, did not sign the letter.
In November 2006 the U.S. State Department ceased to designate Vietnam as a “country of particular concern” following its passage of religious freedom legislation, which outlawed forced renunciations.
"Father Nguyen Van Ly and his associates on March 30, 2007 were sentenced from 5 to 8 years in prison by the VietNamese Communist Government. At the trial, Father Ly shouted "Down with Communism," during which time his mouth was physically muted by the attending court’s bailiff. Throughout the trial the Father and his associates repeatedly denied government’s alleged crime. At the same time they resolutely maintained their conviction to fight for a more democratic Vietnam. Please speak for him by promoting the campaign for the Billboard of “Father Ly’s Muted Mouth."
Phoenix, Arizona - On Nov 7, 2007, the first billboard of Father Ly's Muted Mouth was displayed in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Committee of Father Ly's Billboard in Northern California on Nov 1, 2007 unveiled the fourth billboard of Father Ly's Muted Mouth right next to Freeway 101, closed to the San Francisco International Airport.
October 9, 2007, Karen Tapia-Andersen / Los Angeles Times --- Tuong Tran joins a small rally Monday in Little Saigon to unveil a billboard criticizing the Vietnam government's treatment of a priest during his trial.
I forgot to mention that a 2x3 version of this Father Ly photo/poster also hangs prominently above the doorway of Pho Xe Lua in Eden Center, Falls Church VA.
Why am I not surprised????
**Thirty-seven U.S. Senators call for release of Vietnamese priest Fr. Ly**
Where are the rest of them? I thought they were interested in human rights!
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