Dear all compassionate souls, My name is Maihuyen Tran from Australia. On 25th May 2024, an image appeared on Facebook that brought tears to my eyes and took me back to my own childhood. Three little girls stood sorrowfullly beside their mother, holding signs that read "Return Daddy Back To Us," "We Need Our Daddy," and "Our Daddy Is Not Guilty." Their mother's sign, "Freedom For Bui Tuan Lam," spoke volumes about the injustice they faced. It struck a chord deep within me, for I too have experienced the pain of having loved ones unjustly imprisoned. I was just four years old when my parents and younger siblings were taken away, imprisoned for their search of freedom by boat. I was spared this fate by a stroke of luck, as my uncle, who was carrying me, got lost in the dark forest on our way to escape Vietnam. I spent my childhood living with my grandparents and aunties, yearning deeply for the presence of my parents and the warmth of the whole family. I remember the feeling of longing and the pain of separation. I often stood alone, looking out of a window into the world beyond the tall gate. My face was filled with innocence and vulnerability, my eyes reflecting a profound sense of aching beyond reached. My tiny hand pressed against the windowpane, as if trying to bridge the gap between my longing heart and the outside world. It spoke of their unyielding hope and belief that someday, my parents would be released and my family would be whole once again. Another image, equally poignant, has remained etched in my memory. It captures the two young children of Huynh Thuc Vy, a blogger and human rights activist, who now finds herself unjustly imprisoned. May I use this photo to honour the Vietnamese traditional dress Áo Dài which Huynh Thuc Vy created for me before her imprisoned on 30th November 2024. Even after 48 years under the Vietnamese Communist regime, Vietnam's human rights record remains abysmal. The ruling Communist Party clings to its monopoly on power, allowing no room for dissent or challenge. Fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech, media, assembly, association, conscience, and religion, are severely restricted. Those who dare to speak up face police intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest, and inhumane treatment. Farmers lose their lands without fair compensation, and workers are denied the right to form independent unions. The use of torture and beatings by the police to extract confessions is distressingly common. The justice system, including the courts, lacks independence, leading to the imprisonment of political dissidents and civil society activists on baseless national security charges. Today, over 150 political prisoners languish in Vietnamese jails, their only "crime" being the exercise of their basic rights. Bloggers and activists face daily harassment, intimidation, surveillance, and interrogation in a one-party police state that brooks no dissent. These brave individuals are subjected to prolonged pre-trial detention, cut off from their families and legal representation. The Vietnamese government exploits Article 117 of the penal code to silence anyone who uses the internet to criticize the government or advocate for human rights and democracy. Shockingly, despite its apalling human rights record, Vietnam was elected to the UN Human Rights Council, despite the requirement for designated members to uphold the highest human rights standards. The government made empty pledges on human rights but swiftly detained, arrested, or sentenced numerous journalists, activists, and Non-Government Organisation (NGO) leaders after declaring its candidacy for the Council. In a similar vein, Vietnam updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to tackle climate change, yet arrested prominent climate observers and activists, casting doubts on its commitment to addressing the climate crisis. Recently, on 22nd June, 2024, CIVICUS, the global civil society alliance, released a scathing report condemning Vietnam's mistreatment of activists and journalists. It called into question the country's membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and its ongoing human rights dialogues with Australia and the European Union. Today, I implore you to join me in raising awareness about the plight of Prisoners of Conscience in Vietnam. These individuals, along with their elderly parents and young children, desperately need our support. We are fortunate to have escaped and found solace in countries that uphold and cherish human rights. But imagine, if you are, being trapped in a vast prison like Vietnam, where basic rights are denied and justice is perverted. Let us come together, united in purpose, and extend our support and thoughts to these families, who endure the pain of having loved ones unjustly imprisoned. I humbly request your support in our fundraising efforts. With your generous contributions, we can extend a helping hand to these families in their time of need. Let us demonstrate that compassion and justice know no borders, and that we stand in solidarity with the Prisoners of Conscience in Vietnam. Together, we can make a difference. Let us shine a light on their struggle and give voice to the voiceless. Share this message, donate, and help spread awareness. Join us in creating a better future, one where the rights and dignity of every individual are respected and valued. #SupportPrisonersOfConscienceVietnam #StandForJustice #HumanRightsForVietnam #FreePrisonersOfConscience
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