ISHR Press Release

Vietnam ISHR: Imprisoned Mennonite tortured The Christian teacher Le Thi Hong Lien fell several ill

Ho Chi Minh City/Frankfurt/M. - 19 November 2004. The Mennonite Christian Le Thi Hong Lien who was in the prison Chi Hoa until 15 November, is presumed to have fallen seriously ill. She was admitted to hospital. The parents of the 21-year old teacher fear for their daughter's life. The International Society for Human Rights calls upon the Vietnamese government to immediately look into the matter and to release Le Thi Hong Lien for humanitarian reasons and medical treatment. Together with five others, the young woman was on trial in the people's court of Ho Chi Minh City on 12 November 2004 in the so-called "Mennonite Trial" around the pastor and human rights activist Nguyen Hong Quang. The six Mennonites received a total of eight and a half years of imprisonment. Le Thi Hong Lien received 12 months imprisonment for "civil disorder". Witnesses reported that already during the trial she could not stand or walk. She kept seated during the proclamation of the sentence. She did not recognise her father who was present in the courtroom during the trial. A request made by pastor Quang to treat her for exhaustion and a nervous breakdown was not granted.

After the trial the parents of Le Thi Hong Lien wanted to visit their daughter on 15 November. However, they were not allowed to see her. They were told instead that their daughter was being treated in the medical ward. After they had been waiting for a long time, the prison warden told the parents on the next day that their daughter had been transferred to hospital where she was treated for "mental illness". Only after long negotiations was the prison warden willing to reveal the name of the hospital. After the parents had been able to see their daughter after all on the 16 November, the father reported on the terrible state he found his daughter in. She did not recognise nor speak to her parents. The shadows of policemen caused severe distress in her. Her arm was full of red spots, her eyes were swollen and covered with bruises. A toe was bleeding, the foot nail had been ripped off. The parents concluded from what they saw that their daughter had been tortured. Le Thi Hong Lien had refused to make the required "confession".

Le Thi Hong Lien taught poor children and street children in a Mennonite school in Ho Chi Minh City. She organised classes entitled "classes of love" which had been a bone of contention to the authorities. She was repeatedly arrested and severely beaten. According to information of the International Society for Human Rights, the Vietnamese government intensifies the pressure on the Mennonites around pastor Quang. The house of the pastor which also serves as an office for the Mennonites has been searched several times in the last few nights. His wife was told to remove the sign outside the front door which reads "Mennonite Church". Pupils, students and Christians who had come and visited her, were fined and were prohibited from staying in the house.

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http://www.mennoweekly.org/NOVEMBER/11-22-04/LIEN11-22.html

An inter-Mennonite newspaper, putting the Mennonite world together every week since 1923

Last Updated November 19, 2004

Woman hospitalized following trial, nine-day hunger strike

By Mennonite Weekly Review staff

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — A Mennonite woman sentenced to prison Nov. 12 has been hospitalized with what Vietnamese prison officials called a “mental disease.”

News reports said Le Thi Hong Lien, 21, who taught Bible lessons to children in her Vietnamese Mennonite house church, had been on a nine-day hunger strike before the half-day trial began in Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Court.

Lien, who was arrested June 30, is the only woman among six Vietnamese Mennonites who were tried and sentenced for “obstructing people doing official duties.” Lien was sentenced to 12 months in jail.

Observers believe the trial was directed primarily at discrediting Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang, the general secretary of the Mennonite Church in Vietnam, who was sentenced to three years in jail.

Quang, an outspoken attorney and human rights advocate, was arrested June 8.

Four of Quang’s church associates also had been arrested in March after they apparently reported threats made against them by government agents to Ho Chi Minh City police authorities.

According to the online Compass Direct news service, Lien appeared weak and ill when she arrived for the Nov. 12 trial.

According to Compass Direct, Quang was alarmed by Lien’s appearance and asked court officials to arrange for her immediate medical care.

The judge in the trial apparently refused but allowed Lien to remain seated throughout the proceeding.

When Lien’s parents tried to visit her after the trial in a prison infirmary, they were told she had been sent to an outside hospital with a “mental disease.”

Lien’s parents since have alleged that their daughter was subjected to beatings and other physical abuse during her time in detention.

The parents were not allowed to see Lien while she awaited trial because authorities said she was “too stubborn” to merit visits from her family.

According to Compass Direct, Lien’s parents have signed a statement alleging that “during her time in prison, our daughter was seriously abused and beaten — to the point where it has had serious negative effects on her health and mental condition.”

Compass Direct reported that Lien’s parents had not raised the charges previously because they had hoped she would be freed.

Two other Mennonite detainees — including evangelist Pham Ngoc Thach — also have been abused in prison, according to reports.

Following the trial, church elder Nguyen Hieu Nghia also was reported to be in the prison infirmary with a high fever.

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https://www.compassdirect.org/en/lead.php?idelement=239

Lead story - Thursday November 18, 2004 VIETNAM : IMPRISONED VIETNAMESE CHRISTIAN HOSPITALIZED FOR ‘MENTAL DISEASE’ Female member of ‘Mennonite Six’ endures harsh treatment in police custody. November 18 (Compass) — Le Thi Hong Lien, the sole woman among six Mennonite church workers sentenced to prison in Vietnam last Friday, is hospitalized with a “mental disease,” according to prison officials.

Just 21 years old, Miss Lien has been a zealous church worker for some time, specializing in teaching the Bible to small children. She was arrested on June 30, nearly three months after the March 2 incident involving the five men arrested earlier and tried with her.

Lien and the others were convicted of “resisting persons doing official duty,” a civil crime. Those close to the situation say the charges and trial were an artifice to take Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang, outspoken leader of the Vietnam Mennonite Church, out of circulation. Quang has actively campaigned against religious freedom and human rights abuses.

'Too Stubborn'

Contrary to Vietnamese law, Lien was not allowed family visits during the first two months of her incarceration. Her parents were told that the reason was that she was “too stubborn” and would not admit to her “crime.”

During the November 12 trial, it became known that she had been on a nine-day hunger strike prior to the trial. She appeared very weak and unwell. Her lawyer revealed he had met with her prior to the trial in the prison infirmary.

Quang, on trial as the “ringleader” of the group, was so alarmed at Lien’s appearance that he asked the court to take her immediately for a medical examination, saying that she showed “clear signs of severe weakness and mental stress.” The judge refused but did agree to allow her to remain sitting even at times when court convention required prisoners to stand.

Concerned Parents

Lien’s concerned parents went to visit her on Monday following the Friday trial, according to an approved schedule for visitors. However, they were told that she was in the prison infirmary and that they should come back the next day.

When they returned the following day, November 16, they were made to wait for several hours before being admitted to the prison. Once inside they were told that they could not see their daughter because she had been removed to an outside hospital. Authorities refused to tell them where she was but did tell them their daughter “had a mental disease.”

There had been earlier suspicions that she had been mistreated. Now given her illness in court, the harsh sentence and her hospitalization, her parents have written and signed a report in which they affirm, “During her time in prison, our daughter was seriously abused and beaten — to the point where it has had serious negative effects on her health and mental condition.”

Lien’s parents had not raised the issue earlier because they were hoping she might be let off with time already served.

Prisoners Were Severely Beaten

Family members have confirmed that at least two of the four men arrested in March were severely beaten by police. One of them, evangelist Pham Ngoc Thach, was believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries.

The mother of another prisoner also discovered on November 16 that her son, Mennonite church elder Nguyen Hieu Nghia, was in the prison infirmary with a high fever. Of the six prisoners, Nghia is considered the most vulnerable to pressure and abuse.

A report from the Vietnam News Agency dated November 13 stated, “The trial panel asserted that the crime committed by Quang and his associates was serious, causing chaos and social disorder, and undermining the rule of law.”

The People’s Daily of the same date said, “The actions of Quang and his accomplices caused a negative impact on an orderly and safe society.”

A Compass source familiar with the case remarked, “‘Rule of law’ and ‘safe society’ are the last words that come to mind when observing how Vietnam’s authorities are mistreating innocent church workers, including a young woman.”

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http://www.worthynews.com/christian-persecution/imprisoned-vietnam-mennonite.html

Imprisoned Vietnamese Christian Hospitalized for ‘Mental Disease’ Female member of ‘Mennonite Six’ endures harsh treatment in police custody.

Special to Compass Direct

HO CHI MINH CITY, November 18 (Compass) -- Le Thi Hong Lien, the sole woman among six Mennonite church workers sentenced to prison in Vietnam last Friday, is hospitalized with a “mental disease,” according to prison officials.

Just 21 years old, Miss Lien has been a zealous church worker for some time, specializing in teaching the Bible to small children. She was arrested on June 30, nearly three months after the March 2 incident involving the five men arrested earlier and tried with her.

Lien and the others were convicted of “resisting persons doing official duty,” a civil crime. Those close to the situation say the charges and trial were an artifice to take Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang, outspoken leader of the Vietnam Mennonite Church, out of circulation. Quang has actively campaigned against religious freedom and human rights abuses.

Contrary to Vietnamese law, Lien was not allowed family visits during the first two months of her incarceration. Her parents were told that the reason was that she was “too stubborn” and would not admit to her “crime.”

During the November 12 trial, it became known that she had been on a nine-day hunger strike prior to the trial. She appeared very weak and unwell. Her lawyer revealed he had met with her prior to the trial in the prison infirmary.

Quang, on trial as the “ringleader” of the group, was so alarmed at Lien’s appearance that he asked the court to take her immediately for a medical examination, saying that she showed “clear signs of severe weakness and mental stress.” The judge refused but did agree to allow her to remain sitting even at times when court convention required prisoners to stand.

Lien’s concerned parents went to visit her on Monday following the Friday trial, according to an approved schedule for visitors. However, they were told that she was in the prison infirmary and that they should come back the next day.

When they returned the following day, November 16, they were made to wait for several hours before being admitted to the prison. Once inside they were told that they could not see their daughter because she had been removed to an outside hospital. Authorities refused to tell them where she was but did tell them their daughter “had a mental disease.”

There had been earlier suspicions that she had been mistreated. Now given her illness in court, the harsh sentence and her hospitalization, her parents have written and signed a report in which they affirm, “During her time in prison, our daughter was seriously abused and beaten -- to the point where it has had serious negative effects on her health and mental condition.”

Lien’s parents had not raised the issue earlier because they were hoping she might be let off with time already served.

Family members have confirmed that at least two of the four men arrested in March were severely beaten by police. One of them, evangelist Pham Ngoc Thach, was believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries.

The mother of another prisoner also discovered on November 16 that her son, Mennonite church elder Nguyen Hieu Nghia, was in the prison infirmary with a high fever. Of the six prisoners, Nghia is considered the most vulnerable to pressure and abuse.

A report from the Vietnam News Agency dated November 13 stated, “The trial panel asserted that the crime committed by Quang and his associates was serious, causing chaos and social disorder, and undermining the rule of law.”

The People’s Daily of the same date said, “The actions of Quang and his accomplices caused a negative impact on an orderly and safe society.”

A Compass source familiar with the case remarked, “‘Rule of law’ and ‘safe society’ are the last words that come to mind when observing how Vietnam’s authorities are mistreating innocent church workers, including a young woman.”

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-- (Elvis-Khoeo@BaGia.Com), December 26, 2004

Answers

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-- Chau' Nam Cam (Du ma thang Ho chi Minh@Hanoi.vn), December 26, 2004.