Vietnam civil society organizations condemn the recent violence and torture of public security service

Defend The Defnders | Nov 6, 2014
Translation by Trang Thien Long
Tell The World.

To:

– The entire Vietnam compatriots at home and abroad,

– National Assembly and the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security.

– Democratic governments and the International Human Rights Agencies

On Nov 7, 2013, Vietnam permanent mission at the United Nations announced Vietnam was the latest member of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Recently, Vietnam President has submitted this convention to Vietnam National Assembly for ratification on Oct 23, 2014. To date, there has been a sudden outbreak of many acts of cruelty, brutal torture, humiliation inflicted upon innocent civilians by the public security forces.

I ALWAYS YELL “WHY YOU BEAT ME?”

Translation by Trang Thien Long (DTD)

Tell The World.

About 7PM Oct 29, 2014, I and the religious activist Le Van Soc went to Duc Trong district, Lam Dong province to visit the land rights activist Duong Au, who ended his jail term of five years last month.

As soon as we entered the house, a nearly 60-year-old man walked in and introduced as the security officer of Lam Dong province.

Duong Au was absent; he was joining a funeral in the same village. His daughter drove a motorbike to call him back. Seeing me, from the gate he ran into the house; we hugged each other friendly. Duong Au was jailed in the same cell with me at K2, Z30A Xuan Loc prison nearly one year, and then he was disciplined and moved elsewhere. We inquired about each other’s lives, exchanging the current situation.

NGHE AN PROVINCIAL SECURITY COMMANDER: “THE KIND OF YOU ALL”

You became hurried, grumbled over the repeated questions. This time I found hot in my left wrist when arms crossed. I opened my eyes to see a burning cigarette pressing on and said, “You have no right to do so” “the law does not allow you to torture, doing corporal punishment other people.” He lifted up his cigarette, gnashing of teeth in smoke “The kind of you all …” and then stepped out in the front of other five men.

Translation by Trang Thien Long (DTD)

Tell The World.

Due to circumstance where I surrounded by 6-7 people during 5 hours, and when the commander used malicious words, insulting me I kept silence. Now I write a few lines to you publicly.

Initially, you treated me as a real criminal. You came in and went out, giving instructions, calling telephone, whispering, reminding personnel. Occasionally you participated in the interrogation, looked at me as if to devour. When your experts could not crack the laptop, iPhone and iPad passwords and when I answered consistently that I did not know the password of these gifts, you turned to lost your humanity manner.

Joint statement of IJAVN and FVPoC on the Vietnam government’ violation on the right to the freedom of movement

FVPoc | Aug 28, 2014
Translation by Trang Thien Long
Tell the World
(DTD)

Once again the Vietnam government seriously violate the right to freedom of movement of citizens relating to the trial, considered as “public”, of Bui Thi Minh Hang and her two colleagues on Aug 26, 2014 in Dong Thap province.

Once again the international community, governments interested in democracy and human rights need to know and understand deeply about the truth of the commitment that “State of Vietnam always concerns and guarantees the human rights”, even after the state has been a member of the Human Rights Council and waiting for signs of hope from TPP and lethal weapons.

Open letter of Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience to H.E. Mr. Jose-Manuel Barroso (on the occasion of the visit to Vietnam on Aug 25-26, 2014)

José Mauel Barroso

CTNLT | Aug 24, 2014
Translation by Trang Thien Long
Tell the World (DTD)

Dear Sir Jose Manuel Barroso, EC President.

We are pleased to send a warm greeting to your official visit to Vietnam two days in Hanoi and Saigon.

Reportedly, you will discuss with PM. Nguyen Tan Dung on Free Trade Agreement (FTA), development cooperation among other issues. You also pay courtesy calls on Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and State President Truong Tan Sang same day.

Relating to the FTA between the EU and Vietnam, on Apr 17, 2014 the European Parliament adopted Resolution 2013/2989 (RSP) which emphasizes human rights, democracy and security are core values in the bilateral relation. The resolution also mentioned the rights of fundamental freedoms must be respected in Vietnam such as the freedom of speech, freedom of the media and religious freedom.

Press release from the Vietnam Path Movement on the issue of the Vietnamese government prevented its citizens from attending discussions on Human Rights.

Vietnam Path Movement | 1/8/2014

On June 20, 2014, at the meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva which concludes the Vietnam’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, the government of Vietnam accepted 182 of the 227 recommendations from other countries. Among those recommendations that have been accepted by Vietnam was one that made by Australia, which states: “Give space to non-state media, and that make Criminal Code Articles 79, 88 and 258 more specific and consistent with international human rights obligations on freedom of expression.”

In response, the Australian government and the European Union, the embassies of Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland have jointly organized the seminar: Non-state media in Vietnam right now on July 30, 2014 at the Embassy of Australia in Hanoi, Vietnam.

During this same time, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, was invited by the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to conduct a country visit from July 21, 2014 to July 31, 2013. The purpose of the country visit was to study more about the protection and support of the people’s freedom of religion or belief and if there were any obstacles to these basic rights in Vietnam.

FVPoC: Open Letter to Australian Ambassador, Diplomat Representatives of European Union, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and US

However, at noon of July 29, 2014 on his way from home to the Tan Son Nhat airport to go to Hanoi, Pham Ba Hai was blockaded off by a group of policemen and plainclothes agents. They said that Pham Ba Hai was not allowed to leave home for this seminar, if Hai abided then return home, otherwise, would be forced into the police station by invitation letter that they sent in the early morning of the same day.

FPoC Pham Ba Hai and members

Translation by Trang Thien Long
Tell the World (DTD)
CTNLT | 29/7/2014

Re: The Vietnam government prevented former PoC Pham Ba Hai from attending “Seminar: Non-state media in contemporary Vietnam” in Hanoi.

To:

– Mr. Hugh Borrowman, Australian Ambassador and Representatives of the EU, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the United States in Hanoi.

– Mr. Tim Wilson, Human Rights Commissioner of Australia.

Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience (FVPoC) warmly welcomes the spirit of the seminar content “Non-state media in contemporary Vietnam” which will take place on July 30, 2014 at the Australian Embassy in Hanoi, co-organized by the EU, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the United States.

What government leaders of Vietnam ordered to prevent citizens from meeting UN Rapporteur?

Author: Pham Chi Dung
Translated by Trang Thien Long
Defend the DefenderTell the World
July 27, 2014.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Police and some local policemen barred some pro-democracy activists from going out of home from July 25, 2014 to some days later it’s the latest, liveliest and most blatant example about “State of Vietnam always respects and guarantees human rights.”

On July 25, Mr. Heiner Biederfeldt, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion arrived HCM city to meet a number of religious leaders and witnesses to verify how the nature of the “Vietnam accepted the recommendations of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations” is.

Not only Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, independent journalist Pham Chi Dung, Mrs. Duong Thi Tan (ex-wife prisoner Nguyen Van Hai Dieu Cay), former prisoner of conscience Pham Ba Hai were prevented at their home gate, but also two Protestant pastor Nguyen Hoang Hoa and Nguyen Manh Hungdid. Any movement of legitimate citizens to go out one’s houses was pushed inside by security policemen rudely and entirely illegally.

Vietnam Puts Dissidents Under House Arrest Amid UN Envoy’s Visit

Nguyen Dan Que sits while police search his home, Feb. 26, 2011.
thanhnienonline

RFA | 26/7/2014

Vietnam’s authoritarian government on Friday placed an unknown number of dissidents in its largest city under virtual house arrest or closely monitored their movements in an apparent attempt to prevent them from meeting with a visiting U.N. envoy on human rights, dissidents said. 

United Nations Special Rapporteur Heiner Bielefeldt arrived in the capital Hanoi on July 21 for an 11-day visit to the country to assess the situation regarding the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief, the U.N. said.Some of the dissidents said they were prevented from leaving their homes in Ho Chi Minh city while others said they were harassed or threatened by government security agents when they went out to do their daily chores.

During the trip, he will meet with various government officials and local authorities, and hold meetings with representatives of religious communities and civil society organizations, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva said.

Handy und Sichel

Das kommunistische Vietnam fördert die Unterhaltungsindustrie und gehört doch zu den brutalsten Gegnern der Meinungsfreiheit. Internetaktivisten riskieren viel. VON MATTHIAS LOHRE

5. Juni 2014  17:20 Uhr 

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Ein Mann liest Nachrichten auf seinem Laptop in einem Café in Hanoi.  |  © Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP/Getty Images

Sein Ausflug in die Freiheit dauert nur 24 Minuten. Nguyen Van Dai sitzt in einem kleinen Café in Hanoi. Aus dem Radio kommen süßliche Popsongs, er erzählt, wie er als junger Rechtsanwalt Jurastudenten lehrte, dass die Menschenrechte auch für politisch Andersdenkende gelten. Und wie er 2007 wegen "Propaganda gegen die Sozialistische Republik Vietnam" zu vier Jahren Haft verurteilt wurde. Die ersten Gefängnismonate fristete er bei Wasser und Reis, umgeben von bis zu 32 Mithäftlingen. "Im Winter war es okay, aber im Sommer wurde es sehr heiß."

Joint statement of civil society organizations in vietnam, May 4, 2014

The FVPOC again requests Vietnam and its Security agencies to respect the right of freedom of association of the people and the human rights provisions on which Vietnam has become a signatory. The FVPOC proposes Vietnam Congress to urgently enact the right of association – an essential document that has been delayed for more than two decades since the 1992 Constitution. If this document passed, the FVPOC will proceed to operate under its new rules. And we totally reject the request to terminate our operations.

GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM PLEASE RESPECT THE FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION

After the FVPOC (Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience) press release about the two interrogation sessions with the HCM City security authorities on April 24, 2014, the authorities continue to interrogate Pham Ba Hai about the Association (FVPOC) on the afternoon of April 29, 2014.

The standpoint of Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience (FVPOC) after two official sessions with the Vietnamese authorities

Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Consience (FVPOC)

FVPOC affirmed: Tendency to form CSOs separate from the state control is the inevitable process, according with Article 19 of the International Covenant on civil and political rights which Vietnam signed in 1982, Article 69 of the 1992 Vietnam Constitution and the 2013 Constitution amendment. The tendency also helps creating a balance of interests, human dignity and development for different segmentations of society.

Author: FVPOC |April 26, 2014

*Translation by Huynh Thuc Vy

Tell the World

On April 24th, 2014 the authorities invited former PoC Pham Ba Hai to question about activities relating to FVPOC. 

Please Help Defend Writer Huynh Ngoc Tuan Whose Sternum Was Broken by Agents of Vietnam’s Public Security Forces!

Chan Minh, January 8, 2014

From left: Doctor Le Nguyen Sang, Catholic Priest Phan Van Loi, Catholic Priest Nguyen Huu Giai, Writer Huynh Ngoc Tuan and Human rights defender Pham Ba Hai in Hue city, Dec 29, 2013

In a post dated January 4, 2014 (1) and also in a Youtube.com video (2), Mr. Huynh Ngoc Tuan told the story of the savage beating he received when traveled to Hanoi with a friend, Mr. Pham Ba Hai, to visit friends who are dissidents and/or human rights activists. These friends were: Father Phan Văn Lợi, Father Nguyễn Hữu Giải, lawyer Nguyễn văn Đài,   Dr. Phạm Hồng Sơn, lawyer Lê Thị Công Nhân, Miss Phạm thanh Nghiên, Mr. Nguyễn vũ Bình, and Mr.  Phạm văn Trội.

Vietnamese Authorities Detain Former Political Prisoners Visiting Fellow Dissident

A closed-circuit television image shows Vietnamese democracy activist Pham Van Troi at his trial, Oct. 8, 2009.

Reported by An Nguyen for RFA’s Vietnamese Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.

On 31 Dec, 2013. Vietnamese authorities on Tuesday detained and interrogated three former political prisoners, beating one of them severely, as they traveled to visit a fellow ex-prisoner of conscience at his home outside the capital, a member of the group said.

Writer Huynh Ngoc Tuan, blogger Pham Ba Hai and lawyer Le Thi Cong Nhan traveled from Hanoi to visit democracy activist Pham Van Troi at his home in Thuong Tin district’s Truong Duong village when they were approached by plainclothes police after exiting their taxi, Nhan told RFA’s Vietnamese Service.

Nhan, whose husband Ngo Duy Quyen and son Luca accompanied her on the visit, said the group was taken from Troi’s home to the district police station, located about 200 meters (650 feet) away, where they were interrogated.

Vietnamese Authorities Arrest Prominent Activists in Hanoi

RFA | 2013-09-25

In a relentless crackdown on dissent, authorities in Vietnam arrested on Wednesday two bloggers, an activist and five others, according to one of the detainees.

Police and plainclothes officers detained blogger Nguyen Tuong Thuy, his wife and daughter, and another blogger Pham Ba Hai, as well as activist Nguyen Phuong Uyen, while they were having dinner in Thuy’s house in the country’s capital Hanoi. 

Democracy activist Pham Ba Hai completes 7-year sentence and some photos

By Sao Khue (Defend the Defenders)

Sept 9, 2013

On Sept 8, democracy activist Pham Ba Hai marked his completion of the two-year period under house, the additional measure set by the communist government after spending five years in prison for “conducting propaganda against state”.

To celebrate his full freedom, Mr. Hai organized a small party in his house in Saigon with participation of a number of his friends and local bloggers.

In 2006, Mr. Hai was arrested for posting articles defaming the communist party and its government. For accusing the communist government’s improper actions in protecting the country’s sovereignty in the East Sea and the northernmost region from the Chinese invasion, Hai was given five-year sentence under bar and two years under house arrest.

Vietnam: Free Political and Religious Detainees - 2011

For Immediate Release

Peaceful Dissidents and Bloggers Arbitrarily Locked Up

(New York, April 8, 2011) – Dozens of peaceful advocates for democratic reforms, rule of law, religious freedom, and human rights face arbitrary detention and harsh prison sentences, with no respite in sight, Human Rights Watch said today, on the fifth anniversary of the founding of the democracy movement known as Block 8406.

“With a steady stream of people being locked up for nothing more than asking for their rights, the situation is critical,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Vietnam’s donors and development partners need to forcefully express their public support for Vietnam’s courageous activists and call for the immediate release of all who have been arbitrarily detained.”

Named for its inception date of April 8, 2006, Block 8406 swelled into a movement of thousands through online petitions calling for respect for basic human rights, establishment of a multiparty political system, and guarantees of freedom of religion and political association. Vietnamese authorities respond with harassment and arrests to nonviolent appeals by Block 8406 and other groups advocating for democracy and human rights.

Since June 2010, Vietnamese authorities have arrested and detained at least 24 dissidents, house church activists, and bloggers, many of whom have been held incommunicado for many months without access to legal counsel or to their families. 

2011 Human Rights Reports: Vietnam

BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND LABOR 

2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

Report - May 24, 2012

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY    

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an authoritarian state ruled by a single party, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and President Truong Tan Sang. The most recent National Assembly elections, held in May, were neither free nor fair, since the CPV’s Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), an umbrella group that monitors the country’s mass organizations, vetted all candidates. Security forces reported to civilian authorities.

The most significant human rights problems in the country were severe government restrictions on citizens’ political rights, particularly their right to change their government; increased measures to limit citizens’ civil liberties; and corruption in the judicial system and police.

Specific human rights abuses included continued police mistreatment of suspects during arrest and detention, including the use of lethal force, as well as austere prison conditions, arbitrary arrest and detention for political activities, and denial of the right to fair and expeditious trial. Political influence, endemic corruption, and inefficiency strongly distorted the judicial system. The government increasingly limited privacy rights and freedoms of the press, speech, assembly, movement, and association; increasingly suppressed dissent; further restricted Internet freedom; reportedly was involved in attacks against critical Web sites; and spied on dissident bloggers. Freedom of religion continued to be subject to uneven interpretation and protection, with significant problems continuing, especially at provincial and village levels. Police corruption persisted at various levels. The government maintained its prohibition of independent human rights organizations. Violence and discrimination against women as well as trafficking in persons continued, as did sexual exploitation of children and some societal discrimination based on ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, and HIV/AIDS status. The government limited workers’ rights to form and join independent unions and inadequately enforced safe and healthy working conditions.

The government inconsistently took steps to prosecute and punish officials who committed abuses, and members of the police sometimes acted with impunity.

SECTION 1. RESPECT FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE PERSON, INCLUDING FREEDOM FROM:    

Cable reference id: #08HOCHIMINHCITY451

Reference id	aka Wikileaks id #151539  ?
Subject	Gvn Sentences Three More Hcmc Political Activists
Origin	Consulate Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Cable time	Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:43 UTC
Classification	UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Source	http://wikileaks.org/cable/2008/04/08HOCHIMINHCITY451.html
References	08HOCHIMINHCITY136
History	Time unknown: Original unredacted version, leaked to Wikileaks Thu, 25 Aug 2011 03:30: First publication, unredacted, however non-text content differs Thu, 1 Sep 2011 23:24: Original unredacted version published, with HTML goodies

VZCZCXRO9567 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHNH DE RUEHHM #0451/01 1191043 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 281043Z APR 08 FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4434 INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY 3042 RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 4658

Hide header UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HO CHI MINH CITY 000451 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL/AWH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL [External Political Relations], PGOV [Internal Governmental Affairs], PHUM [Human Rights], VM [Vietnam] SUBJECT: GVN SENTENCES THREE MORE HCMC POLITICAL ACTIVISTS REF: A) HCMC 136 B)HANOI 065 C)07 HCMC 122 AND PREVIOUS HO CHI MIN 00000451 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Three democracy activists from the Bach Dang Giang (BDG) group have been sentenced to two to five year jail terms in HCMC. The three were found guilty by the HCMC People's Court on April 25 of violating Article 88 of the GVN criminal code by "propagandizing against the state." This trial was the latest in a series of trials and convictions for pro-democracy activists detained since late 2006 and 2007 (reftels). End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On April 25, the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) People's Court sentenced democracy activists Pham Ba Hai, Nguyen Ngoc Quang and Vu Hoang Hai to five, three and two years of imprisonment with two years of probation, respectively. The three activists, who are members of the pro-democracy group Bach Dang Giang (BDG) and supporters of Bloc 8406, were found guilty of "propagandizing against the state" in violation of Article 88 of the Penal Code. Nguyen Ngoc Quang was represented by a lawyer, while Pham Ba Hai and Vu Hoang Hai defended themselves in court. The three activists' immediate family members were allowed to attend the trial; members of the international community were not. ConGen HCMC's formal Diplomatic Note requesting permission to attend was denied.

Cable reference id: #06HOCHIMINHCITY1090

CONFIDENTIAL (97070) CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN (4678) SECRET (11322) SECRET//NOFORN (4330) UNCLASSIFIED (75792) UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (58095)

Reference ID	06HOCHIMINHCITY936 (original text)
Subject	PALTALK/8406 BLOC ACTIVIST DETAINED AGAIN
Origin	Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Classification	CONFIDENTIAL
Released	Aug 30, 2011 01:44
Created	Aug 23, 2006 03:42

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 001090 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV SOCI CASC DO THANH CONG PREL VM
SUBJECT: MORE DISSIDENT ARRESTS 
 
REF: HCMC 1012; B) HCMC 936 AND 925; C) HCMC 999 AND 998 
 
¶1.  (U) Following his expulsion from Vietnam on September 21, 
American citizen political activist Do Cong Thanh gave an 
interview on Radio Free Asia in which he gave more details on 
his detention (ref C).  In his interview, Do stated that the 
only official charge made against him was "propagandizing 
against Vietnam."  Do said that his organization -- the People's 
Democratic Party of Vietnam (PDP-VN) -- wants to eliminate 
Article 4 of Vietnam's Constitution, which enshrines Communist 
Party rule and a single Party state.  Do said that the PDP is 
"totally independent" of other organizations. 
 
¶2. (U) Do repeated that two other PDP members were detained at 
the same time he was arrested.  Le Nguyen Sang, a 48-year-old 
doctor, and Huynh Nguyen Dao, a 38-year-old graduate of 
Marxist-Leninist studies.  Do also stated that during his 
incarceration he had been informed by the police that four more 
PDP members based in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang had 
been arrested.  All of these arrestees are Vietnamese citizens. 
Do has not been in contact with us since his return to the 
United States. 
 
¶3. (SBU) We have not been able to confirm independently any of 
the arrests of Vietnamese-national members of the PDP. In some 
cases, probable phone lines appear cut or go unanswered.  In one 
case -- that of PDP member Le Trung Hieu in the Mekong Delta -- 
it appeared that a policeman answered the phone claiming to be a 
"friend" of the activist. 
 
More 8406 Block Arrests 
----------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) Separately, contacts in the dissident community confirm 
Internet reports that police continue their operations against 
the pro-democracy "8406 Bloc."   Over the past month, police 
have detained three more members of the Bloc, all members of the 
Bach Dang Giang Foundation (BDGF).  (Per ref B, the BDGF was 
attempting to organize student protests to coincide with the 
November APEC Leaders' Summit.)  Pham Ba Hai, the purported 
leader of the BDGF, was picked up on September 7 on a visit to 
the northern province of Thai Binh.  Vu Hoang Hai was arrested 
in his home in HCMC on September 5.  BDFG "domestic coordinator" 
Nguyen Ngoc Quang was detained on September 3 after he and Hai 
visited political activist and 8406 Block founder Father Nguyen 
Van Ly in the Hue. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Tran Dinh Nguyen, an 8406 Block member resident in the 
Central Highlands city of Dalat, was detained on September 4 in 
the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai after he visited with 
Mennonite religious leader Nguyen Cong Chinh.  (Chinh is 
affiliated with the controversial Mennonite Pastor Nguyen Hong 
Quang.)  Nguyen was released on September 8 after four days of 
detention.  He then had two more days of "working sessions" with 
Dalat police.  Dissident websites claim Nguyen was arrested 
because he posted information on religious freedom incidents on 
the Internet. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment:  Following months of increased dissident 
activity in the south, the police are having their say.  Over 
the past two months, eight political activists operating in 
HCMC's consular district have been arrested.  These include 
three of the four known members of the BGDF and six colleagues 
of Do Cong Thanh.  Other political activists face a range of 
stepped up pressure, including intensified police surveillance, 
frequent "working sessions," fines, and the threat of arrest. 
End Comment. 
 
WINNICK

Source: http://wikileaks.org/cable/2006/09/06HOCHIMINHCITY1090.html