New York, November 12, 2013–The Committee to Protect Journalists has created a petition that calls on Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to immediately release unjustly imprisoned blogger Nguyen Van Hai.
Hai, who is also known by his penname Dieu Cay, is serving a 12-year prison sentence under a vague law that bars “conducting propaganda” against the state. His blog posts touched on politically sensitive issues, including government corruption and protests against China, which disputes Vietnam’s claim to nearby maritime territories.
In prison, Hai has endured solitary confinement and waged a hunger strike. His prison visits are heavily restricted, and his family members say his health has deteriorated to such a degree that he is barely recognizable.
Hai is one of four international journalists who will be honored with CPJ’s 2013 International Press Freedom Award on November 26 for risking their lives to reveal abuses of power. He will be the only awardee not in attendance at the ceremony.
CPJ asks its supporters to sign and share the petition on Causes.com.
Full petition available here: www.causes.com/freedieucay