November 1, 2011 marked a crucial date for youth activism around the world.
The Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations, the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California, the United Vietnamese Students Associations of Ontario, the Len Duong International Vietnamese Youth Network, Phan Boi Chau Youth for Democracy – Southern California, Phan Boi Chau Youth for Demoracy – Toronto, Phan Boi Chau Youth for Democracy – Norway, the Vietnamese Students Association New South Wales, the Vietnamese Students Association Victoria, the Vietnamese Students Association South Australia, Federal Vietnamese Students Association Australia, Association des Jeunes Vietnamiens de Paris, Vietnamese Students Association at the University of Calgary, and the Southwest Union of Vietnamese Student Associations issues a joint statement in response to the alarming and arbitrary arrests of youth social activists by the Communist Government of Vietnam.
The Communist Government of Vietnam continues its efforts to silence all voices of conscience. Since July 30, at least 15 young patriots have been arbitrarily detained and held incommunicado without access to legal representation. These committed youth activists have participated in activities calling for social justice against bauxite mining in Central Highlands as well as protests against Chinese encroachment on Vietnamese territories. Several of these activists are prominent bloggers; most belong to the Vinh diocese and the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.
We oppose all acts of oppression and persecution by the Hanoi regime. As such, we, as Vietnamese youths are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of these young patriots, including: Chu Manh Son, Dang Xuan Dieu, Dau Van Duong, Ho Duc Hoa, Ho Van Oanh, Nguyen Van Duyet, Nguyen Van Oai, Nguyen Xuan Anh, Nong Hung Anh, Paulus Le Van Son, Ta Phong Tan, Thai Van Dung, Tran Huu Duc, Tran Minh Nhat, and Tran Vu Anh Binh.
We all agree that freedom of speech, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, freedom of religion and the freedom to access information are all basic human rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
We believe that these fundamental rights are an integral part of youth development and building a civil society.
As Vietnamese youth who value freedom, we cannot accept the human rights violations taking place in our homeland. We support the “Speak Up Now!” campaign to advocate for these young activists.
We will continue to:
-Lobby international governments and human rights organizations
-Harness the power of social media and social networking to bring attention to the causes of these youth activists
-Mobilize Vietnamese youth and organizations around the world to partner with the Redemptorist Parish and Vietnamese pro-democracy organizations in advocating for basic rights in Vietnam
-As a multi-approach collaborative effort among many youth organizations worldwide, we join in the Phai Len Tieng – Speak Up Now! Campaign with the Letter Writing Initiative to offer hope and send messages of solidarity directly to the young patriots and their families.
Vietnamese youths, we must stand up and Speak Up Now!
In Solidarity,
Dan Huynh, President – Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations
Billy Le, President – Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California
Nam-An Hoang Dinh, President – United Vietnamese Student Associations of Ontario
Quoc Phan, General Secretary – Len Duong International Vietnamese Youth Network
Sam Tan Huynh, President – Phan Boi Chau Youth for Democracy – Southern California
Nam Nguyen, President – Phan Boi Chau Youth for Democracy – Toronto
Vivienne Nguyen – Phan Boi Chau Youth for Democracy – Norway
Richard Nguyen, President – Vietnamese Students Association New South Wales
Simon Dinh, President – Vietnamese Students Association Victoria
Viet Nguyen, President – Vietnamese Students Association South Australia
Khoa Nguyen, President – Federal Vietnamese Students Association Australia
Tran Nghi, Association des Jeunes Vietnamiens de Paris
Beatrice Ta, Vietnamese Students Association at the University of Calgary
Phong Nguyen, Southwest Union of Vietnamese Student Associations
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