HRC48: Oral statement during ID with Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Item 3:Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Organisation:Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker:Claire Denman

Thank you, Madame President.

CSW thanks the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention for its report and continued work.

We welcome the Working Group’s focus on the deprivation of liberty of human rights defenders, and support their assertion that “human rights defenders who belong to marginalised groups themselves, or who seek to protect the rights of other marginalised people, are at significant risk of detention.”[1]

We are concerned by such cases in Viet Nam, where human rights defender and Hoa Hao Buddhist Nguyen Bac Truyen is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence on unfounded charges of ‘carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the government.’

As a human rights defender, Truyen provided pro bono legal assistance to families of political prisoners, victims of land grabs, and persecuted religious communities. It is clear he has been targeted because of this work.

CSW calls on the government of Viet Nam to release Nguyen Bac Truyen and all those imprisoned for peacefully defending the rights of others immediately and without condition.

Another Hoa Hao Buddhist and victim of arbitrary detention in Viet Nam is Bui Van Tham. Tham is currently serving a six-year sentence after he was detained for peacefully protesting police interference in a Hoa Hao Buddhist ceremony commemorating the death of a member of their community in April 2017.

Last month, reports emerged that Tham had been attacked by another inmate in April this year (2021). His family is seriously concerned about his safety and wellbeing as this is not the first time he has been attacked whilst in prison.

We call for his immediate and unconditional release, and urge the government of Viet Nam to ensure that no-one is detained for peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights.

Thank you

[1] UN General Assembly, Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to the 48^th session of the Human Rights Council, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/48/55