On November 22, 2014 the Netherlands’ Ambassador for Human Rights Mr. Kees van Baar and the new Ambassador for Vietnam Ms. Nienke Trooster met with several Vietnamese human right activists.
Mr. Kees van Baar is in Vietnam to attend the 14th Unofficial Meeting of ASEM (Asia–Europe Meeting) on the theme of ‘Business & Human Rights’.
It is known that a number of teachers and non-government people have registered to attend this meeting but were refused by the regime on “national security” grounds. Mr. Kees van Baar was very surprised to hear about this.
Mr. Kees van Baar says this is his first visit to Vietnam. Apart from his concerns for the economic co-operation between the two countries, the issue of human rights is no less important on the meeting agenda this time.
On behalf of the VBN, blogger Mẹ Nấm (Ms. Nguyễn Ngọc Như Quỳnh) explains about the current situation in Vietnam, namely restrictions on the freedom of speech, especially targeting dissidents. These measures include banning overseas travels and detaining people to keep them from attending meetings hosted by foreign embassies. Incidents of security agents and police beatings activists are also on the increase. The regime also employs hackers to sabotage Facebook pages and websites with anti-government content. Even dissidents who have been jailed and released continue to be mistreated – a case in point is Ms. Phạm Thanh Nghiên who is not allowed medical treatments she needs.
After the above briefing by the VBN, the embassy officials from the Netherlands express their concerns for the human right situation in Vietnam, especially after this country became a member of the UN’s Human Rights Committee. They appreciate the information given by the VBN and say they will study it in the continuing efforts to improve human rights in Vietnam.
Tranlated by Hanh Tran
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