Yen Yen Ong/ Tropical fish hobbyist from Singapore
Nguyen Trun Truc has been sentenced to an unbelievable 12 YEARS FOR allegedly ‘carrying out activities to overthrow the people’s administration.’ This is far from the truth! Nguyen Trun Truc is being severely punished for PEACEFUL ACTIVISM. Yet again, a Vietnamese court has acted in an extreme fashion and condemned this man to a heavy prison sentence.
Thank God for Amnesty International who have illuminated this situation and made it publicly known. They are quite rightly stating that, ‘…Vietnam’s government must stop dealing with dissen by throwing its critics in jail.’ Amnesty International have demanded that he immediately be released from jail.
Nguyen Trun Truc is a member of Brotherhood of Democracy, a non-registered organisation that aims to promote human rights, and advocates democracy for Vietnam. They have been one of the main targets of Vietnam’s attack on dissent, and 40 of its members were arrested in 2017.
It is interesting that when people think of government’s cracking down on dissent, society usually thinks of Russia and North Korea. The corruption and breach of human rights in Vietnam is often missed. I am extremely grateful and greatly appreciative that Amnesty International are bringing this particular issue to light. It is completely unjust and wrong that a human being can not express ones view peacefully without being beaten, arrested and imprisoned. I saw yesterday that a young girl in Australia has been praised for protesting against the national anthem, in awareness of the indigenous Australians. Oh my, what wonderful news. If only it was the same everywhere, and everyone’s voice could be fairly heard.
My prayers tonight will be for Nguyen Trun Truc and his family.