<DIV>FYI - to those new to the WSIS - CS process -</DIV>
<DIV>Those persons on the NA list who have not subscribed to the pleanry list will find the link at the bottom of this page <BR>thanks - Amali<BR><B><I>Meryem Marzouki <marzouki@ras.eu.org></I></B> wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">From: Meryem Marzouki <MARZOUKI@RAS.EU.ORG><BR>To: plenary@wsis-cs.org, hr-wsis@iris.sgdg.org<BR>Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Fwd: [GILC-plan] Amnesty International releases report on Vietnam Net speech curbs<BR>Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 13:19:37 +0100<BR><BR>FYI. Meryem.<BR><BR>Début du message réexpédié :<BR><BR>><BR>> http://www.web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa410372003<BR>><BR>> Amnesty International is increasingly concerned about human rights in <BR>> cyberspace for people in Viet Nam, in particular the fundamental <BR>> rights to freedom of expression, information, peaceful assembly and <BR>> the right to privacy. The Internet has provided people critical of the <BR>> government with more opportunities to peacefully express their <BR>> opinions. However, the relative ease with which dissenting voices can <BR>> be traced in cyberspace, combin
ed with
the absence of privacy <BR>> protection, has increased their risk of arrest and prosecution. <BR>> Without safeguards for the fundamental rights guaranteed under the <BR>> International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which <BR>> Viet Nam is a state party,(2) dissenting voices run an even greater <BR>> risk of falling foul of the authorities than before the launch of the <BR>> Internet. Whilst recognizing the Vietnamese government's legitimate <BR>> responsibility to protect the security of its citizens, Amnesty <BR>> International believes that this should not be used as a pretext to <BR>> stifle criticism, freedom of expression, and human rights generally, <BR>> in cyberspace.<BR>><BR>> The Internet has become ever more popular since its launch in Viet Nam <BR>> in December 1997. The Vietnamese authorities have embraced the <BR>> Internet as a tool for economic development. Technological <BR>> developments are
being
introduced at a rapidly increasing pace. These <BR>> advances are providing a more favourable climate for people to use the <BR>> Internet to improve their social and economic opportunities. Computers <BR>> are becoming more affordable, rates for dial-up subscriptions are <BR>> decreasing and hourly rates for Internet access in Internet cafés are <BR>> now within the financial reach of larger parts of the population. In <BR>> August 2003, the number of Internet users was estimated to be <BR>> approaching 2.5 million. The potential Vietnamese audience for <BR>> Internet publications has likewise increased. Political dissidents and <BR>> others are exchanging e-mails with contacts in the Vietnamese <BR>> diaspora, posting messages on web based Internet forums and a number <BR>> of people have been posting political articles on the Internet.<BR>><BR>> The Vietnamese authorities' concerns about the combination of an <BR>> increased Inter
net
audience and active use by political dissidents and <BR>> others of this medium, has resulted in a crackdown on people using the <BR>> Internet to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and <BR>> association. Since 2001 at least 10 people critical of government <BR>> policies have been arrested on charges linked to use of the Internet. <BR>> Six of them have already been tried and sentenced to long prison terms <BR>> under national security legislation, while the others are detained <BR>> awaiting trial. Information about these people is provided in this <BR>> report. ...<BR>><BR>><BR>> Recommendations<BR>><BR>> Amnesty International calls for the Vietnamese authorities to:<BR>><BR>> ? immediately and unconditionally release prisoners of conscience Le <BR>> Chi Quang, Dr Pham Hong Son, Dr Nguyen Dan Que, Pham Que Duong, Nguyen <BR>> Thi Hoa, Nguyen Vu Viet, Nguyen Truc Cuong, Nguyen Vu Binh, Nguyen <BR>> Khac Toan
, and
Tran Khue, and all of the many others who have been <BR>> detained for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of <BR>> expression and access to information;<BR>><BR>> ? ensure that, pending their release, all those detained are given <BR>> immediate access to their families, medical care and legal counsel in <BR>> accordance with Viet Nam's obligations under international law;<BR>><BR>> ? revise the 1999 Criminal Code as a matter of urgency to bring it <BR>> into line with Viet Nam's international obligations. In so doing, <BR>> ensure that ambiguous provisions relating to national security which <BR>> carry draconian punishments are clearly defined or removed, so they <BR>> cannot be applied in an arbitrary manner to stifle legitimate dissent, <BR>> debate, opposition, and freedom of expression;<BR>><BR>> ? revise criminal procedures as a matter of urgency to bring them into <BR>> line with Viet Nam's international
obligations relating to fair trial, <BR>> with particular attention to the unlawful use of incommunicado <BR>> detention;<BR>><BR>> ? ensure that all provisions in Internet laws and decrees are in full <BR>> compliance with the Vietnamese Constitution, the ICCPR and Viet Nam's <BR>> other international legal obligations.<BR>><BR>> ? make reference to international standards such as the Johannesburg <BR>> and Siracusa Principles in the drafting of any legislation related to <BR>> freedom of expression.<BR>><BR>> ? ensure that freedom of expression and related rights are protected <BR>> from arbitrary interference whilst fulfilling the legitimate concerns <BR>> and obligations of the state to protect its security and the rights of <BR>> its citizens. Monitoring and surveillance should not be carried out in <BR>> an arbitrary manner and should not infringe on the rights to freedom <BR>> of expression.<BR>><BR>> ? remove
restrictions on management of the Internet, including ISPs, <BR>> creation of personal websites, and operation of Internet cafés to <BR>> guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, information, and <BR>> assembly as set out in international standards, as well as <BR>> inviolability of domicile and privacy as established in the Vietnamese <BR>> Constitution.<BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Plenary mailing list<BR>Plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary</BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><BR><DIV>
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<P><STRONG>Amali De Silva-Mitchell MSc.</STRONG></P>
<P>Tel: 604-736-9012 & Email: <A href="mailto:amalidesilva@yahoo.com">amalidesilva@yahoo.com</A></P>
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