The Law Society of Upper Canada Expresses Grave Concerns about the Arrest and Detention of Human Rights Lawyer Le Quoc Quan

The Law Society of Upper Canada is gravely concerned about the arrest and detention of human rights lawyer Le Quoc Quan in Vietnam.

Reliable reports indicate that on December 27, 2012, Le Quoc Quan, human rights lawyer and blogger, was arrested by the police while dropping off his daughter at school. The police advised the family that he would be charged under Article 161 of the Criminal Code, which relates to tax evasion.  If he is convicted, he risks three years in prison and a heavy fine. 

Reliable reports indicate that on December 27, 2012, Le Quoc Quan was arrested while dropping his daughter off at school.   The police advised the family that he would be charged under Article 161 of the Criminal Code, which relates to tax evasion.  If he is convicted, he risks three years in prison and a heavy fine. 

Hey John Kerry, free Le Quoc Quan

HOW important is it that America have a terrific secretary of state? I don't really know. Put it this way: think about any course of action America itself has pursued over the past 50 years. Now, if you were to list the top ten reasons why America decided to pursue that course of action, would the diplomatic efforts of any foreign country be on that list? In a couple of instances, maybe. But not very often. Now, reverse the polarity. That's why I'm sceptical that the quality of American diplomacy has often had a major influence on what other countries decide to do. Blustering, alienating incompetence may earn you unnecessary antagonism, but whether your diplomacy is superb or just mediocre, it doesn't seem likely you'll be able to persuade other countries to radically change their mind about major policies like, oh, pursuing nuclear-weapons capability.

NED expresses deep concern to government of Vietnam

In a letter to the Prime Minister of Vietnam, the National Endowment for Democracy has expressed its deep concern over the Dec. 27 arrest of prominent human rights lawyer and blogger Lê Quốc Quân in Vietnam.

Quân, who was a Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow (2006-2007) at NED in Washington, DC, has written extensively on human rights abuses in Vietnam and has been detained by authorities multiple times on account of his pro-democracy views.

This is the full text of NED President Carl Gershman’s letter to the Prime Minister of Vietnam:

Court appeal of dissident Vietnam bloggers is rejected

An appeals court in Vietnam has upheld the sentences of two prominent bloggers jailed in September for "anti-state propaganda", a lawyer has told the BBC.

The court ruled that the sentences and convictions of writer Nguyen Van Hai and former policewoman Ta Phong Tan should not be overturned.

Nguyen Van Hai and Ta Phong Tan received 12 and 10 years in jail respectively after a brief trial.

In a separate development, another top blogger has been arrested.