Friends Of Viet Tan

18/12/2025

In solidarity with prisoners of conscience and their families in Vietnam, we call for freedom, justice, and respect for fundamental human rights.

17/12/2025

50 Years of the Vietnamese Community in South Australia
50 Năm Cộng Đồng Người Việt Tự Do tại Nam Úc

Celebration dinner hosted by:
The Honourable Peter Malinauskas MP
Premier of South Australia | Thủ Hiến Tiểu Bang Nam Úc

On December 3rd 2025, the Government of South Australia, led by Premier Peter Malinauskas, hosted a reception marking 50 years of the Vietnamese community in South Australia.

This milestone reflects the history of Vietnamese refugees who arrived after 1975, fleeing political persecution, imprisonment, and the loss of fundamental freedoms. Australia became a place of refuge where they could rebuild their lives with dignity.

Fifty years on, the Vietnamese community stands as a testament to resilience, contribution, and the enduring values of freedom and human rights.

17/12/2025

Thank you to our friends from Falun Dafa
for standing with us and raising your voices
on this International Human Rights Day 2025.

Your solidarity strengthens our shared commitment
to defending human rights in Vietnam.

Living in Australia, a country where rights are protected
does not excuse silence.

It creates responsibility —
to stand for human rights in Vietnam and China, where they are denied.

17/12/2025

Human rights are respected in Australia.

In Vietnam, people are imprisoned for peaceful speech,
independent organising, and demanding accountability.

This is why the struggle for human rights in Vietnam must continue.

17/12/2025

10 December – International Human Rights Day

Human rights are not gifts from governments.
They are inherent to every human being: freedom, dignity, and the right to live without fear.

In South Australia, we reaffirm a simple truth:
human rights must be protected everywhere, for everyone.

15/12/2025

11/12/2025

Canadian Member of Parliament sends letter to family of Prisoner of Conscience Le Dinh Luong

December 2, 2025

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Quy
Vinh Hoa Village, Yen Thanh Commune
Nghệ An Province, Vietnam

Dear Mrs. Quy,

I write this letter with deep respect and sincere concern for your husband, Mr. Le Dinh Luong. I want you to know that his case has been brought to my attention, and I understand the tremendous hardships your family has endured during his imprisonment.

As a Member of Parliament in Canada, I have taken the necessary steps to raise Mr. Luong's situation with the appropriate authorities, emphasizing the seriousness with which Canadians regard his health status, legal rights, and humane treatment. Please be assured that Mr. Luong's case has not been forgotten. It remains a matter of concern in Canada as well as within the international community monitoring human rights and human dignity issues worldwide.

I understand that the burden of this struggle weighs heavily on you – in your daily life, in family responsibilities, and in your hopes for your children’s future. No wife should have to endure prolonged anxiety about the health or safety of her beloved husband. Your resilience, courage, and loyalty to your husband are truly commendable.

While I cannot speak on behalf of the Government of Vietnam, nor can I determine the outcomes of their internal processes, I can affirm that I will continue to raise Mr. Luong's case through appropriate channels. I will also continue to call upon the Government of Vietnam to fully honor its commitments under international law, including ensuring humane treatment, access to medical care, adherence to fair legal procedures, and guaranteeing the right to communicate with family.

Please understand that many Canadians – MPs, civil society organizations, and the Vietnamese community in Canada – are thinking of your family and advocating for the rights, health, and safety of Mr. Luong.

During this difficult time, I hope you can find strength in knowing that your husband’s situation is not forgotten, and that your voice and perseverance have inspired many others. If you have any information to share or important updates, my office is always ready to receive and listen.

With deep respect and sincere empathy,

Judy A. Sgro
Member of Parliament
House of Commons, Canada

09/12/2025

Viet Tan Sydney Commemorates the 77th Anniversary of International Human Rights Day

With the theme "Standing with the Families of Prisoners of Conscience," on Sunday morning, December 7, 2025, the Vietnam Reform Revolutionary Party in Sydney, along with many representatives of organizations, dignitaries, friends, and fellow citizens in New South Wales, held a ceremony to commemorate the 77th Anniversary of International Human Rights Day at Cabramatta Freedom Plaza, which is considered the "capital" of the Vietnamese refugee community in Australia.

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Ha Cao Thang (Chairman of the Free Vietnamese Community in Australia, also Chairman of the Free Vietnamese Community of New South Wales), Lawyer Tri Vo (Member of the NSW Parliament, Cabramatta District), Mrs. Dang Kim Ngoc (Vietnam Reform Revolutionary Party), Mr. Tran Quang Viet (Vietnam Restoration Alliance), Mr. Ly Minh Tan (National Rescue Force), Mr. Paul Huy Nguyen (Former Chairman of the Free Vietnamese Community of New South Wales), along with many other representatives from various organizations.

After expressing gratitude to guests and fellow citizens, Mr. Chau Van Kham (Representative of the Vietnam Reform Revolutionary Party in Sydney) emphasized the commitment to continue standing with allied organizations in denouncing human rights violations by the Vietnamese authorities and called for the release of all prisoners of conscience.

In his speech, Dr. Ha Cao Thang affirmed the significance of International Human Rights Day for the Vietnamese refugee community, recalling the great sacrifices of hundreds of thousands of people who fled in search of freedom and underscoring the moral responsibility of Vietnamese people abroad in protecting human rights.

Following this, Lawyer Tri Vo summarized the history of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the message "Everyday Essentials," affirming that human rights are fundamental values that need to be guaranteed in the daily lives of every individual.

After speeches by Mrs. Dang Kim Ngoc and Mr. Tran Quang Viet, there was a sharing of perspectives, calling for the release of all prisoners of conscience and urging the Vietnamese government to respect the human rights of several members of the Vietnam Reform Revolutionary Party, such as David Truong Do, Tuong Vi Tran, Anh Tien Pham, Van Ro Huynh, and Van Thien Nguyen.

Alongside the speeches, the Vietnamese Reform Choir in Sydney contributed their voices with powerful struggle songs, starting with "Youth Song" and continuing with songs like "We Go to Trade," "Return to the People," "A Million Hearts," "Vietnam, Proud Homeland," "This Century - Our Century." The program concluded with the song "Vietnam, Vietnam," affirming the everlasting hope for a bright future where freedom and human rights are respected in Vietnam.

Especially, on the occasion of the 60th birthday of prisoner of conscience Le Dinh Luong, most speeches conveyed wishes for his health, resilience, and peace.

In addition, many fellow citizens and passersby stopped to view the display featuring images of 60 exemplary prisoners of conscience and the hardships faced by their families in Vietnam. This exhibition deeply attracted the community's attention, serving as a powerful reminder of the silent suffering still occurring and the collective responsibility to speak out for those deprived of basic freedoms.

Anh Tien Pham, Sydney

04/12/2025

VIET TAN AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

Viet Tan organises International Human Rights Day annually. In the second week of December, on December 10th, Viet Tan branches around the world typically hold activities that promote human rights, such as demonstrations, exhibitions, and awards for those who speak out against dictatorship and injustice.

What are human rights?

Human rights are civil rights that emphasize the equality of all individuals. People must be respected for their dignity, their differences in thought and ideology must be acknowledged, without discrimination based on race or ethnicity, and their freedom of speech must be upheld, etc.

Without human rights, people treat each other poorly; those in power will oppress and trample on the vulnerable in society. In a society or a country without human rights, people are treated like factory-farmed animals: they may be fed well every day but lack freedom, autonomy, and the right to choose.

Why are human rights extremely important to our lives?

Human rights serve as a guiding principle for building a civilized and humane society. In free and democratic countries, human rights are applied in education, healthcare, social welfare, politics, law, and governance, including in charitable activities, etc.

For example, a legal system that respects human rights honors democratic freedoms, promotes multi-party systems, and recognizes cultural and ethnic diversity.

An education system that respects human rights values freedom of thought, the right to develop, the right to education, and the unrestricted right of students to explore knowledge.

In the training of police, military, and civil servants in many civilized countries, human rights are included in the curricula.

Moreover, human rights are not only about respecting basic rights but also serve as a standard for how people should treat each other with kindness and harmony.

Why does Vietnam need human rights?

Vietnam (the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) signed the International Covenant on Human Rights after joining the United Nations in 1976. However, the Communist Party of Vietnam has never respected human rights. The term "human rights" is rarely mentioned or appears in Vietnam.

The aim of Viet Tan is not just to change the political circumstance on Vietnam; Viet Tan also advocates for reforming the society so that everything can develop better in the future.

For over 40 years Viet Tan is an organization that continually strives to bring human rights to the people of Vietnam.

04/12/2025

03/12/2025

Thailand: Montagnard Activist Extradited to Vietnam
Y Quynh Bdap Faces Risk of Arbitrary Imprisonment, Torture

(Bangkok) – Thai authorities forcibly returned to Vietnam the prominent Montagnard human rights activist Y Quynh Bdap, putting him at risk of torture and other serious abuses, Human Rights Watch said today.

Thai authorities extradited Bdap, 33, on November 28, 2025, two days after Thailand’s Court of Appeal upheld a criminal court’s 2024 ruling that he could be sent back to Vietnam. Thai immigration police initially arrested Bdap on immigration charges in Bangkok in 2024, after Vietnamese authorities requested his extradition. Bdap had been living in Thailand since 2018 and had been recognized as a refugee by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; his deportation violates the principle of nonrefoulement, which prohibits countries from returning people to places where they are likely to face persecution.

“The Thai government has blatantly violated the country’s anti-torture law and its international legal obligations by returning Y Quynh Bdap to Vietnam, where he faces a prison sentence after an unfair trial and the risk of torture,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The Thai government’s willingness to assist Vietnam in repressing human rights activists is appalling.”

The Vietnamese government persecuted Bdap for years, Human Rights Watch said. Vietnamese state media have accused him of being from a family with “a tradition” of opposing the Vietnamese Communist Party and accused his grandfather of being “a henchman” for the United States during the Vietnam War. His father was imprisoned for three years for “inciting” a public protest.

In 2016, Bdap traveled to Thailand for a conference on religious freedom. When he returned to Vietnam, the Vietnamese police detained him for seven days and interrogated him about his trip. He was subsequently placed under intrusive surveillance, leading him to flee to Bangkok in 2018.

While in Thailand, Bdap founded the Montagnards Stand for Justice, which sought to protect and promote the right to freedom of religion and other rights of Montagnards in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. An Indigenous minority, Montagnards have faced political persecution, forced repudiation of their religious beliefs, shuttering of Christian house churches, and constant monitoring and surveillance by Vietnam security forces.

In June 2023, after an outbreak of violence in Dak Lak province in the Central Highlands, authorities arrested scores of Montagnards and criminally charged them and several others in exile, including Bdap, with “terrorism” and other crimes. During a short mass trial by a “mobile court” in January 2024 involving about 100 defendants, Bdap was convicted in absentia and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

In early March 2024, the Vietnamese government, without providing tangible evidence, labeled the Montagnards Stand for Justice and the Montagnard Support Group as “terrorist” organizations linked to the Dak Lak violence and other anti-state criminal activity.

Days later, Vietnamese police traveled to Thailand and visited two neighborhoods near Bangkok with populations of Montagnard asylum seekers and refugees, questioning dozens about Bdap’s whereabouts, intimidating several with accusations of illegally departing Vietnam, and urging them to return to Vietnam or face criminal charges and extradition.

Thai police then arrested Bdap in June on the basis of an extradition request by Vietnamese authorities. He had been in prison during his extradition trial and appeal, up until his forced return to Vietnam on November 28.

In a November 2025 report, Human Rights Watch documented how Vietnam has increasingly engaged in transnational repression in Thailand, targeting especially exiled ethnic minorities with harassment and intimidation. Thai authorities have increasingly participated in these abuses by cooperating with Vietnamese authorities and allowing Vietnamese police to interrogate asylum seekers and refugees. Exiles and immigration lawyers believe the Vietnam government presses Thailand to keep some exiles in immigration detention indefinitely, by denying them bail, to pressure them to cooperate with Vietnamese police.

UN human rights experts have criticized the misuse of terrorism charges in the 2024 mass trial of Montagnards in Vietnam and the reported use of evidence obtained by torture, and have said that targeting Bdap for his association with the Montagnards Stand For Justice is part of the intensifying discrimination and repression against the Montagnard population. Human Rights Watch has no information about Bdap’s involvement in the 2023 violence in Dak Lak but considers his trial in Vietnam unfair and is gravely concerned about his safety following his extradition to Vietnam.

Vietnamese authorities have not yet confirmed that they have Bdap in their custody.

Concerned foreign governments should strongly press the Vietnamese government to disclose his whereabouts and request access to him given the high risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

Bdap’s extradition violates Thailand’s Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, which prohibits extradition when there is a substantial risk of torture or ill-treatment upon return.

Thailand is also obligated to respect the international law principle of nonrefoulement, which prohibits countries from returning anyone to a place where they would face a real risk of persecution, torture, or other serious ill-treatment, or a threat to their life. This principle is codified in the Convention Against Torture, to which Thailand is a party, and customary international law.

“The Bdap case demonstrates the Thai government’s unwillingness to respect international law and protect foreign human rights advocates who live in Thailand,” Pearson said. “Concerned governments should expedite resettlement of Vietnamese and other nationals at risk in Thailand to places where they will be safe.”

Thai authorities forcibly returned to Vietnam the prominent Montagnard human rights activist Y Quynh Bdap, putting him at risk of torture and other serious abuses.

24/11/2025

Hydropower plants in Central Vietnam released maximum water when there was a storm, causing flooding in many places. The number of deaths was huge, but the Vietnamese government deliberately hid the real number of deaths. When the flood occurred, people did not see the government's rescue forces. They only came later and filmed and took pictures for propaganda purposes. These hydropower companies are owned by government officials in a privatized manner. They are joint ventures with the state-owned electricity corporation EVN, which has a monopoly on electricity sales in Vietnam.