Amnesty International, 29 October 2012
Two Vietnamese songwriters who face up to 20 years in jail for writing songs criticizing their government should be released immediately and unconditionally, Amnesty International said today, ahead of their trial on Tuesday 30 October 2012 at Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Court.
Vo Minh Tri, known as Viet Khang, 34, and Tran Vu Anh Binh, known as Hoang Nhat Thong, 37 have both been detained since late 2011.
Both are accused of conducting anti-state propaganda under Article 88 of Viet Nam’s Criminal Code – an offence that carries a sentence of up to two decades.
“This is a ludicrous way to treat people just for writing songs. These men are prisoners of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression through their songs and non-violent activities, and should be freed,” said Rupert Abbott, Amnesty International’s Researcher on Viet Nam.
Read more: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/viet-nam-acquit-songwriters-who-face-20-years-jail-2012-10-29
