RAPID
ACTION NETWORK
28 March 2013
RAN 14/13
PEN International is seriously concerned for the
health of writer and activist Nguyen Huu Cau, who is seriously ill and denied
adequate medical care in the prison camp where he is serving a life-time
sentence for his critical writings. PEN International protests his
imprisonment, and demands his immediate and unconditional release on
humanitarian grounds and in accordance with
Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
to which Vietnam
According to PEN’s information, Nguyen Huu Cau, 67, is a poet,
songwriter, human rights defender and anti-corruption activist. He was arrested by public security police on 9 October
1982 for having authored an ‘incriminating’ manuscript of songs and poems.
Nguyen Huu Cau had reportedly noted allegations of rape and bribery committed
by the two high level officers on the back of the pages of the original
manuscript.
Nguyen Huu Cau was accused of committing ‘destructive acts’ that
were supposedly ‘damaging’ to the government’s image and on 23 May 1983, he was
sentenced to death. His mother submitted an appeal on his behalf and a year
later, on 24 May 1985, the Court of Appeals commuted his capital sentence into
life imprisonment. The manuscript was reportedly not used as evidence in the
trial against him, in order to protect the two officers concerned.
In the many years since, Nguyen Huu Cau has reportedly been held in harsh solitary
confinement. He has apparently now lost most of his vision and is almost
completely deaf. Nguyen Huu Cau
suffers from a serious heart condition, which is worsening because of the lack
of adequate medical attention and the deplorable prison conditions. He was
recently reported to be in very poor health, according to his daughter
returning from an authorized periodical visit to the camp deep in the jungle.
Concerns for his well-being are acute. Nguyen Huu Cau is being held at forced
labour camp K2 Z30A Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province, Vietnam
Samples of Nguyen
Huu Cau’s poems and songs are attached, translated from the Vietnamese by
Nguyen Hoang Bao Viet of Suisse Romande PEN.
Please send appeals:
* Expressing serious concern for the health of
imprisoned writer and activist Nguyen Huu Cau and urging that he is given full access to all
necessary medical care as a matter of urgency;
* Calling for his
immediate and unconditional release on humanitarian grounds and in accordance
with Article 19 of the ICCPR to which Vietnam
(...) PEN International Writers in Prison
Committee
Brownlow House 50-51 High Holborn London
WC1V 6ER.
Tel.+44 (0)20 7405 0338 Fax: +44 (0)20
7405 0339 www.pen-international.org .
