August 3, 2004

Her Excellency, Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary Ambassador
Nguyen Thi Hoi
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
470 Wilbrod Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6M8

Excellency,

I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world.

CJFE wishes to express its concern over the sentencing of cyberdissident Dr. Nguyen Dan Que. On July 29, after more that 18 months behind bars before his trial, Dr. Que was sentenced to an additional year in prison.

Dr. Que, who has already spent 18 years in prison for his criticism of the government, was arrested in March 2003 after he posted an essay on the internet that criticized the lack of freedom of expression in Vietnam.

At his trial, Nguyen Dan Que was reportedly not allowed representation by his lawyers, and diplomatic observers were not allowed to attend. Dr. Que was repeatedly interrupted and then removed from the proceedings when he tried to argue in his defence. He also suffers from a stomach ulcer and high blood pressure and his family has been unable to visit him or get him the medication he needs for these conditions while he has been in police custody.

CJFE calls on the Vietnamese government to cease its long-standing persecution of Dr. Que, a non-violent, dissident, and to release him from jail immediately. His imprisonment is a blatant violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Vietnam is a signatory, that protects the individual's right to "seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, or through any other media of his choice."

I look forward to receiving your prompt reply.

Yours truly,

Arnold Amber
President

Case file number: PL-O421