The U.S. State Department is condemning the imprisonment of Vietnamese author Pham Doan Trang, "who did nothing more than peacefully express her opinions," a news release said.
"The United States calls on the Vietnamese government to release Trang, who has been recognized internationally for her work to advance human rights and good governance in Vietnam, and to allow all individuals in Vietnam to express their views freely and without fear of retaliation," the State Department said. "We also urge the government to ensure its laws and actions are consistent with the human rights provisions of Vietnam’s Constitution and Vietnam’s international obligations and commitments."
Trang was recently sentenced to nine years in prison for disseminating information harmful to the government, The Hill reported.
"We note as well the recent opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which found Trang’s detention to be arbitrary and in contravention of Vietnam’s international human rights commitments and obligations," the U.S. State Department said.
Amnesty International also condemned Trang's imprisonment, pointing out that she had recently reported about water pollution killing marine life and construction of a military airport near a village.
“It is outrageous that the Vietnamese authorities are convicting Pham Doan Trang, a courageous journalist and human rights defender, who has for years fought for a just, inclusive and rights-respecting Vietnam," Ming Yu Hah, deputy regional director for campaigns at Amnesty International. "Her work should be celebrated and protected, not punished and criminalized."
