MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Vietnam
7.6.2016 - (2016/2755(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Frédérique Ries, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Marielle de Sarnez, Filiz Hyusmenova, Pavel Telička, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Valentinas Mazuronis, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Nedzhmi Ali, Dita Charanzová, Martina Dlabajová, José Inácio Faria, Fredrick Federley, Nathalie Griesbeck, Marian Harkin, Ivan Jakovčić, Louis Michel, Javier Nart, Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Carolina Punset, Robert Rochefort, Marietje Schaake, Jasenko Selimovic, Hannu Takkula, Ivo Vajgl, Hilde Vautmans, Cecilia Wikström, Paavo Väyrynen, María Teresa Giménez Barbat, Urmas Paet, Petras Auštrevičius on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0754/2016
The European Parliament,
-having regard to the previous resolutions on Vietnam,
-having regard to the Universal declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948,
-having regard to the international Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966,
-having regard to the 2008 EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders,
-having regard to the 2013 EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief,
-having regard to the EU- Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation of 17 December 2015,
-having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure;
A.whereas protests started when the government failed to address an ecological disaster which hit the fish stocks of the coastal provinces affecting millions of people; whereas the fish kill was caused by the a massive discharge of waste by an industrial plant, Vietnamese have been protesting against the authorities lack of reaction showing that profits matters more than citizen’s well-being; the Vietnamese authorities have mounted a countrywide crackdown on protests against the government failure to address the ecological disaster;
B.Whereas the situation for human rights defenders and political activists in Vietnam has become increasingly tense in the recent months due to a persistent pattern of arrests, harassment and physical assaults by police officers and unidentified persons against human rights defenders, bloggers, government critics and social activists;
C.whereas this intimidation campaign continued and intensified during President Obama’s visit to the country; This in complete violation of freedom of expression and the right to gather peacefully; whereas peaceful activists are being detained because of their involvement in the spontaneous protests;
D.whereas it has been reported on social medias that many activists were being forced to stay at home by police officers guarding their homes; whereas the authorities did not stop with activists but also cracked down on the press, banning BBC journalists and blocking social media sites; whereas President Obama’s visit was supposed to advance human rights in the country, the exact opposite happened;
E.bis whereas religions are subjected to invasive government controls and members of independent religions are subjected to harassments, physical assaults and detention, as observed by the UN Special Rapporteur on FoRB in his visit to Vietnam;
F.whereas human rights defender Nguyen Van Dai was arrested on 16 December 2015 and has been detained ever since on charges of 'conducting propaganda against the state'.
G.whereas the Nobel Peace Prize nominee and leader of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) Thich Quang Do's health has been deteriorating rapidly during his prolonged arbitrary house arrest; whereas Thich Quand Do has almost uninterruptedly been detained since 1982 for his peaceful advocacy of human rights and religious freedoms in Vietnam;
H.whereas Tran Huynh Duy Thuc who was imprisoned in 2009 for "activities aimed at subverting the people's administration" after a trial with no meaningful defence for the accused has received a sentence of 16 years, followed by 5 years house arrest; whereas Thuc began a hunger strike on 24 May 2016 to protest against human rights violations in the prison;
I.whereas many other prisoners of conscience have been reported to have deteriorating health problems, including the following human rights activists: Ngo Hao, Dang Xuan Dieu, Nguyen Dang Minh Man, Nguyen Huu Vinh and Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh;
1. Expresses its deep concerns about the worsening climate for human rights, social and environmental activists in Vietnam and condemns all acts of violence and politically motivated charges, sentences and conditions against activists and human rights defenders in Vietnam.
2. urges the Vietnamese authorities to cease the harassment, attack and arrest of human rights defenders, bloggers, government critics and social activists and immediately release all peaceful activists who are currently detained;
3. calls on the Vietnamese authorities to immediately release Thich Quang Do and Nguyen Van Dai;
4. calls on the Vietnamese authorities to guarantee a fair trial for Tran Huynh Duy Thuc and respect the human rights of all prisoners including Thuc;
5. calls on the government to guarantee the safety and health of those who are in prison;
6. encourages the government to work towards strengthening democracy and the rule of law and to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms;
7. calls on the Member State, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, The European External Action Service and the Commission, in line with the EU's Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy to immediately raise the above mentioned concerns and recommendations with the Vietnamese government.