Letter to the President of the Danish Parliament requesting for the human rights improvement in Vietnam

Tran Van Huynh
439F8 Phan Van Tri Street, Govap District
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Telephone: +84 90 3350117
Email: tranvanhuynh@hotmail.com

March 2^nd, 2012

His Excellency Mogens Lykketoft
Speaker of the Folketing
Trepilevej 1 B, 2930 Klampenborg
Phone in the Folketing: +45 3337 4034
Email: mogens.lykketoft@ft.dk

C/c: His Excellency John Nielsen
       Danish Ambassador to Vietnam
       19 Dien Bien Phu Street
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: +84 (4) 38231 888
Fax: +84 (4) 38231 999
E-mail: hanamb@um.dk

Re.: Official visit of the President of the Danish Parliament and request for the human rights improvement in Vietnam.

Dear Mr. Lykketoft,

I am Tran Van Huynh, a 75-year old Vietnamese citizen, father of Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, a prisoner of conscience.

It is very welcome news for us to hear that you will have an official visit to our country from the 4th to the 7th of this month. I believe that this anticipating trip of you will considerably contribute to strengthening the ties between our two countries in which the human rights improvement in Vietnam should be, I think, substantially cared for because of their importance not only for the sustainable growth of Vietnam but also for the peaceful development of the world. It is also what my son does believe in and strive for and that is why he was imprisoned.

I very much admire your country where human rights and dignity are sacredly enshrined and ultimately protected. It’s why Denmark is one of the best, the most democratic and prosperous country all over the world. Through Thuc’s studies, I also know that the beautiful life of Danish people has come from the social democratic model that he adores. Therefore, on Feb 5^th this year, I sent a letter to Madam Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark that is holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union to ask for her assistance for the improvement of human rights in our country. On Feb 15^th, I got the reply from her secretary informing that the letter has been referred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

I write this letter to you, seeking your concern and support also for tangible improvement of human rights in Vietnam that must lead to the release of all political prisoners in my country and lifting all restrictions on the former ones. They include, inter alios, religious activists: the Most Venerable Thich Quang Do, Rev. Nguyen Van Ly; rights and democratic activists: entrepreneur and economist Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, lawyer Le Cong Dinh, businessman and social activist Le Thang Long, master (M.Sc.) Nguyen Tien Trung, Lt-colonel Tran Anh Kim, Dr. Cu Huy Ha Vu; pro-worker activists: Mr. Nguyen Hoang Quoc Hung, Ms. Do Thi Minh Hanh, Mr. Doan Huy Chuong; patriotic song composer Viet Khang (Vo Minh Tri); patriotic demonstrators: Ms. Pham Thanh Nghien, Mr. Nguyen Van Hai (Dieu Cay) and Mrs. Bui Thi Minh Hang; anti-corruption reporter Hoang Khuong (Nguyen Van Khuong); etc.

Your consideration is very much appreciated.

Yours sincerely

Tran Van Huynh

PS: Please find enclosed herewith the letter that I sent to Madam Prime Minister of Denmark on Feb 5^th, 2012 and the acknowledgement from her Personal Secretary in reply to me, as well as an excerpt from the book “Hewing Quest for Democracy and Prosperity” which was written by Tran Huynh Duy Thuc.

Vietnamese version here