A lawyer who defends Thai Ha parishioners has reported that so far he has not been able to contact his clients.
Lawyer Le Tran Luat, who will defend eight Thai Ha’s parishioners, has told BBC news that he has not been able to contact two of his eight clients who have been jailed for months. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nhi, born 1962; and Mrs. Ngo Thi Dung, born 1954, have been jailed at Hoa Lo prison, known to American prisoners of war as the "Hanoi Hilton". The prison was used for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War and now for political prisoners.
Access to the prison is very limited. In addition, “prisoners are often forced to refuse any contact with their lawyers,” Mr. Luat warned. Those who request to see their lawyers are believed to suffer mistreatment by prison guards.
Hanoi Redemptorist community fears that at least four of them who has been charged with articles 143 and 245 of the Penal Code may face a sentence up to 36 months in prison. In particular, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nhi may face a harsh sentence.
Nhi has been subjected to harsh criticism from state-run media. She has been depicted as a criminal who had involved herself actively in protests at both Thai Ha and Hanoi former nunciature.
On Jan. 25, during a protest at Hanoi former nunciature, Nhi climbed over a gate to place flowers on a statue of the Virgin Mary inside the building.
Discovered by security personnel, Nhi was chased around the garden of the building. Disregarding her explanations for her venturing into the building, the guards kicked and slapped her severely. In the witness of more than 2,000 Catholics, a security commander even loudly ordered his subordinates to beat her to death the woman.
Lawyer Le Quoc Quan intervened, telling the security officials that their acts were unlawful and that they should stop beating the woman. However, they turned to attack him and dragged him to an office where he was beaten cruelly.
Seeing all this brutality, in order to rescue Mr. Quan and Mrs. Nhi, the protestors had no other choice than breaking through the gate to confront the security officers.
Lawyer Le believes that the eight Thai Ha’s parishioners are innocent. “The wall was built illegally on their land. They have their rights to destroy it,” he said. However, despite his best efforts, he cannot expect an acquittal verdict, as it is a political trial, not a criminal trial as stated by the government.
Lawyer Le Tran Luat, who will defend eight Thai Ha’s parishioners, has told BBC news that he has not been able to contact two of his eight clients who have been jailed for months. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nhi, born 1962; and Mrs. Ngo Thi Dung, born 1954, have been jailed at Hoa Lo prison, known to American prisoners of war as the "Hanoi Hilton". The prison was used for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War and now for political prisoners.
Access to the prison is very limited. In addition, “prisoners are often forced to refuse any contact with their lawyers,” Mr. Luat warned. Those who request to see their lawyers are believed to suffer mistreatment by prison guards.
Hanoi Redemptorist community fears that at least four of them who has been charged with articles 143 and 245 of the Penal Code may face a sentence up to 36 months in prison. In particular, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nhi may face a harsh sentence.
Nhi has been subjected to harsh criticism from state-run media. She has been depicted as a criminal who had involved herself actively in protests at both Thai Ha and Hanoi former nunciature.
On Jan. 25, during a protest at Hanoi former nunciature, Nhi climbed over a gate to place flowers on a statue of the Virgin Mary inside the building.
Discovered by security personnel, Nhi was chased around the garden of the building. Disregarding her explanations for her venturing into the building, the guards kicked and slapped her severely. In the witness of more than 2,000 Catholics, a security commander even loudly ordered his subordinates to beat her to death the woman.
Lawyer Le Quoc Quan intervened, telling the security officials that their acts were unlawful and that they should stop beating the woman. However, they turned to attack him and dragged him to an office where he was beaten cruelly.
Seeing all this brutality, in order to rescue Mr. Quan and Mrs. Nhi, the protestors had no other choice than breaking through the gate to confront the security officers.
Lawyer Le believes that the eight Thai Ha’s parishioners are innocent. “The wall was built illegally on their land. They have their rights to destroy it,” he said. However, despite his best efforts, he cannot expect an acquittal verdict, as it is a political trial, not a criminal trial as stated by the government.