HC Deb 22 July 2004 vol 424 c552W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Vietnam concerning the arrests of(a) Nguyen Hieu Nghia, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Pham Ngoc Thach and Nguyen Van Phuong on 2 March in Ho Chi Minh City, (b) Le Thi Hong Lien on 3 July in Ho Chi Minh City, (c) Ly Chin Sang, Ly Sin Quang, Vang Chin Sang and Vang My Ly in late 2003 and now in prison and (d) Father Nguyen Van Ly in 2001 and serving a five year sentence; and what representations he has made concerning (i) the treatment of Nguyen Thanh Nhan and Pham Ngoc Thach when they were detained in police stations and (ii) the conditions in prison for Christians. [185065]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

With EU partners, we participate in a regular EU-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue with Vietnam. The last meeting, attended by our ambassador in Hanoi, was held on 22 June. Freedom of religion and the plight of unlicensed Christian groups were among the issues raised by the EU. We also raised our concerns regarding fair trials and prison conditions in Vietnam.

The EU maintains a list of prisoners/detainees of concern in Vietnam, which currently includes Father Nguyen Van Ly.

We are currently investigating, with EU partners, events surrounding the reported arrest of Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang and some of his followers in Ho Chi Minh City earlier this year including Nguyen Hieu Nghia, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Pham Ngoc Thach and Nguyen Van Phuong.

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