Days before their up-coming court of appeal, Thai Ha’s defendants have learned that their chief attorney is still being under police watch around the clock, his office of in Ho Chi Minh City has been shutdown, his staff is being harassed, and his clients are being coerced to look for another attorney. Facing tough challenges which seem out of control, parishes in Vietnam have held vigil prayers for Catholic defendants and their lawyers.
In an open persecution campaign against lawyer Le Tran Luat, the Catholic defendants’ attorney, Vietnam government withdrew his office’s license in Ho Chi Minh City on March 24. It was the latest attempt in a series of intimidation and defamation against him since he decided to represent the Catholics at the court of appeal set for March 27 in Hanoi.
Luat has alleged that he has been virtually under house arrest with his movement has been severely restricted and constantly monitored by the police. On March 12, while trying to board a flight to Hanoi for trial preparation, Luat was apprehended and detained at the police station for questioning. On March 15, he was arrested again and had to keep coming to the so-called "working sessions" by police's order. The ordeal did not end there for him and those who are related to him both personally and professionally. His entire staff has been harassed to this date, his personal equipments seized, his reputation distorted and tarnished by state media, he himself and his family received threatening phone calls, and his clients have been contacted and coerced to either cancel their contracts with his law firm or given false, distorted information about his personal and professional conducts.
In his last attempt to travel to Hanoi for the March 27, he managed to escape police’s monitor and could reach to Ninh Phuoc, a remote county of Ninh Thuan province, 300 km away from Ho Chi Minh City, before being arrested at 3 AM March 21`, and taken back to his office where he has since been under virtual house arrested.
A week before the trial, Catholic defendants were contacted by court officials, who advised them on the possibility of not having Luat as their defense counsel as police in Ho Chi Minh City have tried their best to prevent him, travelling to Hanoi.
“Recently we have learned that our attorney Mr. Le Tran Luat had been prevented by Ho Chi Minh City's police from flying to Hanoi to provide legal counsel to us,” said Catholic defendants in a motion sent to competent authorities.
“We hereby motion to the Hanoi People's Court, the Department of Public Security, and Ho Chi Minh City's Police Dept. to provide him assistance, making it possible for attorney Le Tran Luat to arrive in Hanoi to provide us counsel in our appeal hearing on Mar 27, 2009, securing our right to legal representation according to due process,” they continue.
Furthermore, on Monday, five among the defendants came to court and insisted on their right to legal representation with attorney Le Tran Luat would be their chief defense counsel along with other two. Another defendant confirmed she detained only Mr. Luat as her defense counsel.
Facing so many obstacles caused by the active engagement of authorities in the campaign of persecutions against him and convicted parishioners of Thai Ha, great crowds have taken part in the vigils organized in Hanoi, Vinh, Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces to pray for the Catholic defendants and their attorneys.
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| Crying for injustice outside People's Court of Hanoi |
Luat has alleged that he has been virtually under house arrest with his movement has been severely restricted and constantly monitored by the police. On March 12, while trying to board a flight to Hanoi for trial preparation, Luat was apprehended and detained at the police station for questioning. On March 15, he was arrested again and had to keep coming to the so-called "working sessions" by police's order. The ordeal did not end there for him and those who are related to him both personally and professionally. His entire staff has been harassed to this date, his personal equipments seized, his reputation distorted and tarnished by state media, he himself and his family received threatening phone calls, and his clients have been contacted and coerced to either cancel their contracts with his law firm or given false, distorted information about his personal and professional conducts.
In his last attempt to travel to Hanoi for the March 27, he managed to escape police’s monitor and could reach to Ninh Phuoc, a remote county of Ninh Thuan province, 300 km away from Ho Chi Minh City, before being arrested at 3 AM March 21`, and taken back to his office where he has since been under virtual house arrested.
A week before the trial, Catholic defendants were contacted by court officials, who advised them on the possibility of not having Luat as their defense counsel as police in Ho Chi Minh City have tried their best to prevent him, travelling to Hanoi.
“Recently we have learned that our attorney Mr. Le Tran Luat had been prevented by Ho Chi Minh City's police from flying to Hanoi to provide legal counsel to us,” said Catholic defendants in a motion sent to competent authorities.
“We hereby motion to the Hanoi People's Court, the Department of Public Security, and Ho Chi Minh City's Police Dept. to provide him assistance, making it possible for attorney Le Tran Luat to arrive in Hanoi to provide us counsel in our appeal hearing on Mar 27, 2009, securing our right to legal representation according to due process,” they continue.
Furthermore, on Monday, five among the defendants came to court and insisted on their right to legal representation with attorney Le Tran Luat would be their chief defense counsel along with other two. Another defendant confirmed she detained only Mr. Luat as her defense counsel.
Facing so many obstacles caused by the active engagement of authorities in the campaign of persecutions against him and convicted parishioners of Thai Ha, great crowds have taken part in the vigils organized in Hanoi, Vinh, Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces to pray for the Catholic defendants and their attorneys.