Lê Công Định
Lê Công Định (born 1 October 1968) is a Vietnamese
Life before arrest
Định studied law at Hanoi Law School and Saigon University. He studied in the
In 2003, Định worked for a local law firm called YKVN, which is contracted to provide local assisting services for White & Case LLP, as US-based lawfirm that was appointed to represent VASEP (Vietnam Association of Seafoods Export Processors) an industrial association that successfully represented Vietnamese catfish farmers in a trade dispute in the US Department of Commerce.[6]
Just prior to his arrest, Định was a defense lawyer for high-profile democracy and religious freedom activists, and was known for publicly supporting famous Vietnamese political dissidents including Nguyễn Văn Đài, Lê Thị Công Nhân, and Nguyễn Văn Hải (known as Dieu Cay).
Arrest and charges
On 13 June 2009 police from the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Security Agency raided Lê Công Định's law offices. He was arrested on "national security charges" under article 88 of Vietnam's criminal code ("conducting propaganda against the government").[5] Since his arrest, his current location and condition is unknown.[3]
Deputy Director General Department of Security Vu Hai Trieu announced that documents and conspiracy evidences had been confiscated which indicate an attempt to overthrow the state of Vietnam by Định.
The arrest came a week after President
On 24 December 2009, Định was charged with "attempts to overthrow the state", after being initially charged with "spreading anti-government propaganda".[7]
On 20 January 2010, he was convicted and sentenced to 5 years in prison for subversion. His co-defendants, Nguyễn Tiến Trung, Trần Huỳnh Duy Thức and Lê Thăng Long received sentences from 7 to 16 years.[8]
International response
Numerous governments and organizations have condemned the arrest and demanded Lê Công Định's immediate release.[3][9]
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) describes Định as a "peaceful human rights defender" and released a statement that "The arrest of Lê Công Định demonstrates a disturbing but familiar pattern. Peaceful advocates for religious freedom and related human rights are intimidated, harassed, and jailed. Lê Công Định’s arrest demonstrates that no human rights, including the freedom of religion, are secure in Vietnam.”[2]
A statement on the United States Department of State website reads "Vietnam's arrest of Mr. Định contradicts the government's own commitment to internationally accepted standards of human rights and to the rule of law. We urge the Government of Vietnam to release Mr. Định immediately and unconditionally, as well as all other prisoners in detention for peacefully expressing their views."[9]
Referencing President
The
On 17 June 2009, Amnesty International, who granted Lê Công Định with the status of prisoner of conscience, issued a statement calling the authorities to release him immediately and to "either repeal or amend provisions in the 1999 Penal Code which criminalize peaceful political dissent".[4]
See also
References
- ^ "Prominent lawyer jailed in Vietnam". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ^ a b "U.S. Group Condemns Arrest of Rights Lawyer in Vietnam". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ^ a b c "Vietnam lawyer's arrest worries US". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ^ a b "Urgent Action : Le Cong Dinh, human rights lawyer: arrested". Retrieved 2009-06-21.
- ^ a b c d "Vietnam: Free Prominent Rights Lawyer Le Cong Dinh". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ^ Mydans, Seth (2009-12-24). "Vietnam Charges Lawyer With Capital Crime". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
- ^ "Vietnam lawyer charged with subversion". BBC News. December 24, 2009.
- ^ Mydans, Seth (January 20, 2010). "Vietnam Jails 4 Activists for Subversion". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
- ^ a b "Vietnam: Arrest of Lawyer Le Cong Dinh". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ^ "Global lawyers' group brands Vietnam arrest 'arbitrary'". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ^ "On the Repressive Measures Against Attorney Le Cong Dinh". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ^ "Call for release of lawyer who defended bloggers and free expression activists". Retrieved 2009-06-21.
- ^ "Call for the release of Vietnamese lawyer/writer Le Cong Dinh". Retrieved 2009-06-21.
External links
- Lê Công Định on Facebook