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40the people’s government” under article 79 of the Criminal Code. Placeof detention: Detention camp Chi Hoa, So 1 duong Hoa Hung, Phuong13, Quan 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Other information: Le CongDinh has been working as a lawyer defending journalists, human rightsactivists and internet writers prosecuted in for their reporting, includinglawyers and dissident writers Le Thi Cong Nhan and Nguyen Van Daiand the renowned blogger Dieu Cay. Le Cong Dinh has also written forvarious international media outlets, including the British BroadcastingCorporation (BBC) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), and banned overseaswebsites such as the “ Democracy Movement”, “Vietnam Reform”, “NewHorizon”, “Thorough Discussion”, and “Democratic Freedom”, whichVietnamese authorities view as “subversive”. According to ReportersWithout Borders, sources said that Le Cong Dinh’s arrest might berelated to a libel case brought by several lawyers against the VietnamesePrime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. Reportedly denied access to familyvisits since his arrest.(RAN 25/09 – 16 June 2009)LU Van BayD.O.B. 1952 Profession: prodemocracy activist and internet writer. Dateof arrest: 26 March 2011 Sentence: Four years in prison and three yearsof house arrest. Expiry: 25 March 2015 Details of the arrest: Arrestedat his home, by security police officers, who also seized his computerand several of his articles. Details of the trial: After a half-day trial, on22 August 2011, Lu was convicted under article 88 of the VietnameseCriminal Code for ‘conducting propaganda against the regime’. Hewas charged specifically for ten articles he posted on various overseasInternet sites over the last four years, calling for the end of one-party rulein the country and the introduction of a multiparty system. The judgealso stated that Bay ‘confessed’ to the crime and asked for leniency. Ithas been reported that during the trial, Lu was not allowed to accessan independent lawyer or to defend himself. Place of detention: Traitam giam Cong an Kien Giang, Khu pho 6 Duong Nguyen Chi Thanh,Rach Soi, Kien Giang, Vietnam Treatment in prison: Lu Van Bay isallowed three five-to-ten minutes’ visits with his family every month. Hehas lost weight and frequently suffers from back pain. His family areconcerned for his well-being. Professional details: Lu is known for hiswritings on social and political issues including freedom of expressionand freedom of the press. He has contributed to a number of websitessuch as Dan Chim Viet (Vietnamese Birds), Doi Thoai (Dialogue) andTo Quoc (Fatherland). For security reasons, he has written under variouspseudonyms, including Tran Bao Viet, pen-name he used since 2010.(RAN 49/11 – 21 September 2011) Honorary member of: SuisseRomand PEN Centre.*NGUYEN Huu CauD.o.b.1945. Profession: poet, songwriter, human rights defender andanti-corruption activist. Date of arrest: 9 October 1982. Sentence: Deathsentence, commuted to life imprisonment. Details of arrest: Reportedlyarrested at his residence by public security police of Kien Giang provinceon 9 October 1982 for being author of a ‘’incriminating’’ manuscript ofsongs and poems. In his original book, Nguyen Huu Cau noted on theback of the pages allegations of rape and bribery committed by the twohigh level officers. The original manuscript was not used as evidencein the trial, in order to protect the two officers concerned. Place ofdetention: Forced labour camp K2 Z30A Xuan Loc, Dong Nai province,Viet Nam. Details of trial: Nguyen Huu Cau was accused of committing‘’Destructive acts’’ that were supposedly ‘’damaging’’ to the government’simage. On 23 May 1983, he was sentenced to death. Nguyen Huu Caupleaded not guilty and his mother submitted an appeal on his behalf.On 24 May 1985, the Court of Appeals commuted his capital sentenceinto life imprisonment. Treatment in prison: During many consecutiveyears, Nguyen Huu Cau has been placed in harsh solitary confinement.He has lost most of his vision and is almost completely deaf. He is invery poor health, according to his daughter returning from an authorizedperiodical visit to the camp deep in the jungle. There are serious concernsabout his well-being. [Note: this case was first brought to PEN’s attentionat its annual congress held in Tokyo in September 2010.]NGUYEN PhongD.o.b.1975 Profession: Human rights activist and dissident, co-founderof the Vietnam Progressive Party and co-editor associate of Tu Do NgonLuan (Freedom of Speech) underground online magazine. Date ofarrest: 29 March 2007. Sentence: Six years, followed by three yearsof probationary detention. Expires: 29 March 2013. Details of arrest:Nguyen Phong was arrested with Nguyen Binh Thanh (see below: Caseclosed) at their homes in the city of Hue on 16 and 17 February 2007 andheld for interrogation before being released. Security police also raidedtheir homes and seized banned publications, writings and computerdisks. They were re-arrested on 29 March 2007 and brought to the Courtthe next day. Details of trial: On 30 March 2007, a People’s Court inHue sentenced Nguyen Phong to 5 years in prison, followed by 3 yearsprobationary detention respectively for ‘Conducting propaganda againstthe Socialist Republic of Vietnam’ under Article 88 of the Criminal Code(RAN 12/07-28 February 2007; update#1-7 March 2007; updates#2-3April 2007. See Nguyen Van Ly’s case). Place of detention: Labourcamp Thanh Phong K3, Huyen Nhu Xuan, Thanh Hoa, Vietnam.NGUYEN Manh SonD.o.b. : c. 1944 Profession : Dissident writer and retired governmentworker. Date of arrest : 8 May 2009 Sentence : 3 years and six monthsin prison and 3 years’ probationary detention. Expires: 7 November2012 Details of arrest : Arrested for poems and articles published since1995, in particular the underground poetry anthology Truth is Errorcirculated on the internet and published on overseas websites. Amongstdozens of activists to have been arrested since September 2008 as part ofan ongoing crackdown on peaceful dissent. Details of trial: Tried andconvicted by the Hanoi People’s Court on 9 October 2009 under Article88 of the Penal Code for ‘Conducting propaganda against the SocialistRepublic of Vietnam’. His sentence was upheld on appeal on 21 January2010. Place of detention: Labour camp Nam Ha, Kim Bang, Ha Nam,Vietnam.*NGUYEN Thanh Long (religious name Nguyen Cong Chinh)D.o.b. 10 October 1969. Profession: pastor, online writer, head of theEvangelical Lutheran Church of Viet Nam, member of the banned humanrights defenders network Bloc 8406 and the Vietnamese Political andReligious Prisoners Friendship Association. Date of Arrest: 28 April2011. Sentence: 11 years in prison. Expires: 27 April 2022 Details ofarrest: Arrested at his house where security police seized a dozen of hiswritings and documents. Details of trial: He was accused of writing andspreading online his texts (about 19 titles) that ‘slandered Communistauthorities’ and ‘distorted the situation of freedom of opinion andreligion’ in Viet Nam. He was also accused of sending to NGOs, foreignmedias and international institutions his online critical writings andcomplaints about human rights and the persecution of ethnic minorities,and for giving interviews to foreign radio and newspapers. Details of