Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly

Nguyễn Văn Lý called, Brother Thaddeus (or Thadeus ), ( born May 15, 1946) is a Roman Catholic priest and a prominent Vietnamese dissident. He spent as a political prisoner has been more than 15 years in prison.

Life

Nguyễn Văn Lý began in the 1970s, to engage politically in the pro-democracy movement. Because of his activities, he was sentenced to one year in prison in 1977. From May 1983 to July 1992 he was arrested again. The reason given was: " Opponent of revolution and destruction of national unity ". In December 1983, Amnesty International Nguyễn Văn Lý adopted as a "Prisoner of Conscience ".

In November 2000, received Nguyễn Văn Lý international and official attention when, during a state visit by Bill Clinton in Vietnam members of the Committee for Religious Freedom visited him in his village.

On 17 May 2001 Nguyễn Văn Lý was arrested in An Truyen. He was charged with: " Repeated failure to comply with conditions of probation ." In October 2001, he was sentenced to another 15 years in prison because he stood for the human right to personal freedom of expression. Due to international pressure, the sentence was later reduced several times and Nguyễn Văn Lý released in February 2004. But he is under house arrest in the Archdiocese of Hue. In July 2011 he became ill transferred back to the prison in Ba Sao.

On April 8, 2006 Nguyễn Văn Lý published together with the writers ' manifesto of freedom and democracy in Vietnam. " Later called the signatories of the manifesto Bloc 8406, after the publication date of the paper.

A week later came the first issue of " free speech " ( Vietnamese: Ngon Luan Tự Thu ) out. Editors were Nguyễn Văn Lý and three other Catholic priests.

On 8 September 2006 Nguyễn Văn Lý participated in the founding of the " Vietnam Progress Party" ( Vietnamese: Việt Nam Tiến Đằng Thang ) part.

Arrests and convictions

On 19 February 2007, the secret police did a search in the Archdiocese of Hue, confiscated computers and detained Nguyễn Văn Lý. He was taken to Ben Cui in central Vietnam, where he was placed under house arrest. From February 24 to March 5 Nguyễn Văn Lý went on a hunger strike to protest his arrest.

Due to his membership in Bloc 8406 Nguyễn Văn Lý was sentenced on 30 March 2007 to eight years in prison. The verdict of the judge Bùi Quốc Hiệp was: " Severe crimes that threatened national security ." Nguyễn Văn Lý had tried to organize a boycott of the upcoming elections.

His appearance in court was transferred to Vietnam on television and foreign journalists were allowed to participate. During the trial, Nguyễn Văn Lý tried "Down with communism " to call ( Vietnamese: " DJA Đạo Cong San "). However, he was stopped by the security guard behind him, by this bore down his mouth. The video of this situation and a photo were then spread over the Internet.

The conviction was criticized by foreign leaders, including the Speaker of the U.S. State Department Sean McCormack and the former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who called this a "negative development". The U.S. Congressman Christopher Smith initiated a resolution of the Congress, was asked in Vietnam, Nguyễn Văn Lý released immediately and unconditionally. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren wrote a letter to Rice, so that Vietnam would be taken up again in the list of countries for particular concern (English: "Country of Particular Concern" ) because of its violations of human rights and religious freedom.

Nguyễn Văn Lý opinions

"Brother Lys activities in support of greater religious freedom in Vietnam last for many years ."

"Homo Homini Award" is an annual award of " People in Need " Foundation, to people with outstanding services rendered to human rights, democracy and non-violent resolution of political conflict. Nguyễn Văn Lý is a Roman Catholic priest. He was repeatedly victims of brutal treatment by the authorities when he stood up for religious freedom in Vietnam. " ( Homo Homini receipt of the Prize in 2003 ).

" This is not the first clash of brother Ly with the Vietnamese government. Since 1977, the government of Vietnam Ly has repeatedly arrested, harassed and imprisoned for advocating religious freedom. "

"The U.S. Senator Sam Brownback met yesterday with one of the leading political and religious dissidents in Vietnam. Brownback met brother Nguyễn Văn Lý, a Catholic priest who is being held captive by Vietnamese officials, because he criticized the one-party system and the lack of religious freedom in Vietnam. The two met in Nam Ha prison where Nguyễn Văn Lý is currently incarcerated. "