§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Vietnamese authorities concerning the continued imprisonment of(a) Nguyen Nan Tuoi and (b) Nguyen Huu Guong; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what representations he has made to the Vietnamese authorities concerning the continued imprisonment of (a) Father Dominic Tran Ninh Thu; (b) Father Joseph Nguyen Cong Doan and (c) Pastor Ho Hieu Ha; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyWe have raised the question of political prisoners with the Vietnamese authorities both with our partners in the European Community and bilaterally. The most recent EC demarche, concerning a number of detainees imprisoned for their political or religious beliefs, was made to the Vietnamese Government on 29 December. The Twelve have also raised at the United Nations continuing reports of abuses of human rights in Vietnam, and have called on Vietnam to release, without delay, those prisoners detained without a fair trial. We shall continue to seek appropriate opportunities to raise specific cases of human rights abuses, including those mentioned by the hon. Member.