SENATOR NGO TO ATTEND THE RALLY FOR A FREE VIETNAM ON PARLIAMENT HILL

OTTAWA, June 06, 2013 – On June 08, 2013, Senator Thanh Hai Ngo will attend the Rally for a Free Vietnam on Parliament Hill to raise concern for three activists who were unjustifiably persecuted by the Communist Government of Vietnam. The demonstration will then proceed to the Vietnamese Embassy in Ottawa on 55 Mackay St.

The Organizing Committee to Support Vietnam’s Democracy and Human Rights Movement, the Vietnamese Community in Montreal Organizing Committee and the Vietnamese Community of Kitchener-Waterloo will be hosting this event. These organizations will also be joined by various Vietnamese communities from Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto including the United Vietnamese Student Association of Ontario. Along with over 250 demonstrators, Senator Ngo will be accompanied by Minister Jason Kenny, and Mr. Royal Galipeau, M.P. to raise awareness on the worsening human rights condition in Vietnam.

“The recent arrests of Nguyen Phuong Uyen, Truong Duy Nhat and Dinh Nguyen Kha demonstrate the Vietnamese Government‘s lack of concern for basic and fundamental human rights” said Senator Ngo.

Senator Ngo also stated that “Canada places paramount regards to the rule of law and human rights. The Vietnamese authorities are acting in direct contravention to these universal and fundamental principles that would guarantee equality, justice and fairness before the law.”

Phuong Uyen and Nguyen Kha were arrested on October 20, 2012 for speaking against the Vietnamese Communist Party’s foreign policies in China. On May 16, 2013, they were sentenced to prison for six and eight years for violating Article 88 of Vietnam’s penal code. Blogger Duy Nhat Truong was arrested on May 26, 2013. Afterwards, he was convicted under Article 258. Duy Nhat Truong may face up to seven years of imprisonment. While waiting for their trials, these three activists were violently abused by government officials.

Senator Ngo and the Vietnamese communities hope to send a clear and strong message to the Vietnamese government that Canada will not stand for such blatant and deliberate actions to silent those who seek social justice.

For more information, please contact:
Office of the Honourable Thanh Hai Ngo
613-943-1599
ngoth@sen.parl.gc.ca