Le Tran Luat, the pro-bono lawyer known for his role in the Thai Ha case is now pleading for public support in protecting his own safety, his family and his right to practice law from government’s threats and harassment.
Luat, known for his role in defending the 8 Thai Ha parishioners standing trial on Dec 8, 2008 for participating in protests against government's illegal requisition of the Catholic church in Hanoi, found himself the next target of the government's continual effort to thwart the on-going law suits 2 Thai Ha defendants brought against New Hanoi Newspaper and VTV1 for falsifying crucial details of the trial in their News reports.
While in Hanoi to prepare his clients, Luat's law office at 30 3 rd St, Ward 7, Go Vap District, Ho ChiMinh City on Feb 25,2009 had been ransacked, his personal equipments seized his staffs apprehended without showing proper cause. His office manager said there has never received a search warrant beforehand, thus constituting an illegal search.
The incident took place following an article written by Quoc Huy on Ho Chi Minh City Police Newspaper issued on Feb. 24 which accused Luat of misconduct to which a witness quickly corrected on Luat's behalf. Luat also reported that while en route to Hanoi on Feb. 24, he received anonymous phone call, warning him about a smearing campaign would be aiming at him by the state media should he keep defending the Thai Ha plaintiffs in their said lawsuits. His office manager also reported that there are several plain clothed police have been conducting surveillance on their office every day since his involvement in this high profile case. His family members have also been constantly pressured to talk him out of handling the case.
Besides being the pro bono lawyer to Thai Ha defendants, for many years Luat has been defending several victims of wrongful land confiscation in which the government officials have been named defendants. Actions against him are similar to those used in cases involved other dissidents who spoke out against the government previously.
 |
| Lê Trần Luật (right) and Catholic defendants |
While in Hanoi to prepare his clients, Luat's law office at 30 3 rd St, Ward 7, Go Vap District, Ho ChiMinh City on Feb 25,2009 had been ransacked, his personal equipments seized his staffs apprehended without showing proper cause. His office manager said there has never received a search warrant beforehand, thus constituting an illegal search.
The incident took place following an article written by Quoc Huy on Ho Chi Minh City Police Newspaper issued on Feb. 24 which accused Luat of misconduct to which a witness quickly corrected on Luat's behalf. Luat also reported that while en route to Hanoi on Feb. 24, he received anonymous phone call, warning him about a smearing campaign would be aiming at him by the state media should he keep defending the Thai Ha plaintiffs in their said lawsuits. His office manager also reported that there are several plain clothed police have been conducting surveillance on their office every day since his involvement in this high profile case. His family members have also been constantly pressured to talk him out of handling the case.
Besides being the pro bono lawyer to Thai Ha defendants, for many years Luat has been defending several victims of wrongful land confiscation in which the government officials have been named defendants. Actions against him are similar to those used in cases involved other dissidents who spoke out against the government previously.