US Condemns Vietnam Jailing of Internet Dissident

Reuters ^ | June 19, 2003

[Tailgunner Joe]

- The United States condemned on Thursday the 13-year jail sentence passed on a Vietnamese doctor accused of using the Internet to disseminate a translated U.S. essay on democracy.

The (State) Department strongly condemns the harsh sentence given to Pham Hong Son for merely expressing his views on the Internet," a statement released by the U.S. embassy in Hanoi said.

"No individual should be imprisoned for the peaceful expression of his views. The sentencing of Pham Hong Son clearly violates international standards for the protection of human rights including freedom of expression," the statement added.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh said Vietnam puts no curbs on cyberspace. "I totally disagree with the critics who say Vietnam restricts the Internet. The Vietnamese government has been very supportive of the dissemination of the Internet," she said at a regular press briefing on Thursday.

Son's case has caught the attention of international human rights groups and diplomats based in communist Vietnam who view it as a fresh sign of Hanoi's intolerance of political dissent.

Two dissidents were jailed last year for cyberspace criticism of the government, which outlaws any attempts to achieve a multiparty political system.

Son, who worked for a foreign pharmaceutical company, is accused of translating into Vietnamese and posting on the Internet an article entitled "What is Democracy?" from the State Department's Web Site.

He was arrested in March 2002 and charged with espionage after he "took the initiative" to phone and email "political opportunists" in Vietnam and abroad, Human Rights Watch said in a statement, citing an April 10, 2003 indictment.

Last December the same court jailed a 47-year-old Vietnamese man for 12 years for espionage.

Son has the right to appeal the conviction within 15 days.

About a million of Vietnam's 80 million population surf the Net, many using Internet cafes because the cost of personal computers and telecoms charges are too high for most.

Human rights groups say five Vietnamese in all are being punished for being cyber-dissidents.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


Praise GOD that...

in a new Century of FREEDOM...

President BUSH has pledged...

FREEDOM's Return...

During his Presidency

to:


Communist Vietnam
Communist North Korea
Communist Cuba


NEVER FORGET

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


Vietnamese officials considering punishment to actor in U.S. film ["We Were Soldiers]


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/753996/posts



.."WE WERE SOLDLIERS".. Vietnam Actor DON DUONG is FREE at Last


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/888311/posts


NEVER FORGET

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


Just like our Fight 4 FREEDOM in Irag in a new Century of FREEDOM...



'WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE...& YOUNG'...4 FREEDOM

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39626542519c.htm


Signed:..ALOHA RONNIE Guyer / Vet-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965 http://www.lzxray.com


NEVER FORGET

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


..VIETNAM was a NOBLE CAUSE despite HILLARY RODHAM..

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=314


NEVER FORGET

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


GARDEN GROVE votes Free South Vietnam Flag -IN-, who's next..?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/863430/posts


NEVER FORGET

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEXT =


Vietnam Flag of FREEDOM flies in:

1) Westminster, California
2) Garden Grove, California
3) San Jose, California
4) Milpitas, California
5) Santa Clara County, California
6) Falls Church, Virginia


DEMOCRATS in the California State Legislature continue to Vote
"NO"

REPUBLICANS in the California State Legislature continue to Vote "YES"


NEXT..?

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks for the ping, Ronnie.

Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people...

      The preservation of the means of knowledge among the lowest ranks is of more importance to the public than all the property of  all the rich men in the country. ~ John Adams

[ALOHA RONNIE]

REPUBLICANS = The FREEDOM Party

DEMOCRATS = The Anti FREEDOM Party

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[freeeee]

REPUBLICANS = The FREEDOM Party

They have to earn that distinction through their actions.

And R's are doing exactly the opposite. I wish I could say differently.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


For America's Best Defense in a new Time of War in a new Century of FREEDOM...

~a REPUBLICAN President BUSH has pledged DEMOCRACY and FREEDOM's coming to all the Peoples of the Middle East, Communist Vietnam, Communist North Korea and Communist Cuba.

~a REPUBLICAN Party is supporting our President'S FREEDOM Crusade.

Did, or is, the DEMOCRAT Party doing the same..?


Twice all the controlling DEMOCRATS on the California State Assembly Rules Committee voted "NO" on the Vietnam Flag of FREEDOM's waving in all Vietnamese-American Communities in the State. All REPUBLICANS on the Rules Committee voted "YES."


The 1st Day the DEMOCRATS voted "NO" on FREEDOM for Vietnam was the very day that President BUSH landed on an arriving from Iraq USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier ...declaring our bringing FREEDOM to the oppressed peoples of the World.

The 2nd Day the DEMOCRATS voted "NO" on FREEDOM for Vietnam ...was the very day that President BUSH ended a Speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. saying that...

.."I am so proud of an America that is not afraid to take risks on behalf of the FREEDOM of Others"


There IS a Difference.
The Difference is FREEDOM.
Remember to VOTE that way.


Signed:

A Former Lifelong DEMOCRAT


NEVER FORGET

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for heads up!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

From our "WE WERE SOLDIERS" Forum:


'Vietnam Brands War Film Actor 'National Traitor


http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=196


A Story with a very happy ending.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

From our "WE WERE SOLDIERS" Forum:


'Vietnam Brands War Film Actor 'National Traitor


http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=196


A Story with a very happy ending.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

I will NEVER FORGET how...

on the very day SADDAM's Statue fell for FREEDOM in Bagdhad...

persecuted "WE WERE SOLDIERS" Vietnamese Actor DON DUONG arrived in San Francisco, California...

...a FREE Man forever.

...NEVER.

[Joy Angela]

Communist Vietnam seems antsy these days.

What are they afraid of?

Freedom for Common Man
means the End of the Elite Dynasty!

[Joy Angela]

from post 12..

There IS a Difference.
The Difference is FREEDOM.
Remember to VOTE that way.


I agree!

The Decade-of-Clinton empowered tyrants
and terrorist-dictators and to this day,
the Free World is threatened by the residue
left behind by the SLIMY Clintons!

Thank God, President Bush is countering
that movement by giving HOPE to the Common
Man and Woman world-wide!

Prayers for the Brave who still long-for-freedom
and dream of being free.