Delayed visit to Tet holiday due to COVID-19 outbreak
Radio RFA noted that through the social networking site Facebook, some prisoners of conscience families in Vietnam simultaneously shared information that they could not visit their relatives during the Lunar New Year (Tet)’s Eve, due to the new outbreak of COVID-19.
Teacher Huynh Thi Ut, mother of prisoner of conscience Tran Hoang Phuc, on February 2, said that An Phuoc Prison camp, in Binh Duong, announced the suspension of all visits but allowed to send gifts by post.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh, wife of a prisoner of conscience Truong Minh Duc, on the same day Feb 2 posted on her personal Facebook account information about Prison camp No. 6, Thanh Chuong, Nghe An allowed inmates to make phone calls home to inform the prison of not allowing visits during this Tet holiday.
Ms. Phan Thi Trang, sister of prisoner of conscience Phan Kim Khanh, on the evening of February 3, told RFA about the regulations of Nam Ha prison camp during the New Year’s Eve.
“At present, when there is a Covid-19 pandemic in Vietnam, they allow only one person per family to meet. So, my brother told me to wait until Tet is over and the whole family should visit. Since my parents have just finished visiting, they just send more money and medicine and that’s all.”
The wife of political prisoner Luu Van Vinh, Ms. Le Thi Thap, told RFA that she and some of the relatives of prisoners of conscience at Gia Trung camp were more fortunate than having just finished visiting their relatives in a prison camp before the prison’s authorities announced the stop due to an outbreak of COVID-19.
“Mr. Vinh made a phone call on January 8 and said that the camp had not allowed a visit because of pandemic concern. However, on January 20, the camp called back and announced to allow prison visits again. Maybe because of the Tet holiday. I also book tickets to visit my husband the few days before Tet. But the ticket was out. Therefore, we made an appointment to visit early. It was very fortunate that the epidemic broke out as soon as I came back from my visit. Just visiting on January 28, on February 1, I heard that the camps announced to stop all visiting.”
Mr. Tran Huynh Duy Tan, the younger brother of political prisoner Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, told RFA on the evening of February 3 that Mr. Thuc had called back on the same day.
“Basically, Thuc has been on a hunger strike for over 70 days. but Mr. Thuc said that he will stop going on a hunger strike today. The family is also happy to hear this news. Mr. Thuc said that he could fast for 100 days or more, but his goal of going on a hunger strike has already been reached. In terms of health, Mr. Thuc said that his weight has not decreased anymore, blood pressure and blood sugar are also returning to normal. My family felt happy because Mr. Thuc was fine, and the danger was over. Mr. Thuc reported on this Tet holiday, his family should not visit him because of the Covid-19 concern.”
More peace of mind than last year’s Tet
Through discussions with some inmates of prisoners of conscience, Radio RFA was informed that although psychology is still worried about the COVID-19 epidemic, relatives of prisoners of conscience feel more secure. On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2020. At that time, the COVID-19 epidemic had just appeared, so there was not much information available and the relatives of the prisoners of conscience were very concerned about their health and safety in the prison.
The COVID-19 pandemic has a new outbreak after Vietnam has been internationally acclaimed for its high efficiency in the prevention of the horrible pandemic in 2020. Although the third outbreak of COVID-19 is considered evolutionary complicated and widespread in the community, some prisoners of conscience expressed some peace of mind because disease prevention measures were carried out in prisons. There are even cases such as political prisoner Luu Van Vinh telling his wife and children to be very careful in traveling because community infection can cause high risks.
New year joy in Tan Suu 2021
Confident with RFA about the New Year’s Eve, not to welcome the New Year with his relatives in a prison situation, Mr. Tran Huynh Duy Tan confided:
“Actually, it’s also very sorry and sad. Because of the occasion of Tet, coming to meet him and sharing Tet with him is also a comfort for him. But this year was so difficult and Mr. Thuc also took the initiative, telling his family not to visit and not to worry. Mr. Thuc is always optimistic. Mr. Thuc said that although he can’t meet his family this Tet holiday, his visit will be soon.”
Some relatives of Vietnamese prisoners of conscience share their feelings that they are also more comforted in the situation of not being able to visit family members in the prison on Tet holiday, through the information that the NGO ACAT is campaigning signed the petition and will be submitted to French President Emmanuel Macron on February 12, on the first day of the New Year’s Day, to call for the release of Vietnamese prisoners of conscience.
Ms. Le Thi Thap said:
“Prisoners of conscience are always accompanied by consulates, human rights organizations, and brothers and sisters in other countries, always accompanying, caring for, and asking for their freedom. Relatives of the prisoners of conscience in the country were very happy about that. Having received information like this, I am very happy and hope that in 2021 there will be a change and I hope that prisoners of conscience will be free in the new year.”
Ms. Phan Thi Trang wishes:
“If that is the case, it would be very good since all prisoners of conscience are probably looking forward to one day early release from prison. Especially in such a family situation, we always only hope foreign organizations can speak up to help their loved ones be released.”
Action Chrétien Anti Torture (ACAT) is a non-governmental organization with headquarters in Paris and offices in Europe. ACAT’s activities focus on human rights, the rights of the LGBT community, and globally against torture.
Priest Pham Minh Hoang, a former political prisoner in Vietnam, on February 3, spoke to RFA from France regarding the ACAT’s campaign to sign a petition calling for the release of prisoners of conscience in Vietnam. Nam during this New Year’s Eve:
“By signing this petition will achieve any results or not, I really cannot know. But as we know that all the petitions, whether Vietnamese or foreigners, only speak up a mental matter and call for attention to a certain issue. Apart from this, it is temporarily called they contacted the government because the government can intervene only. For me, all the interventions are beneficial, regardless of whether they are successful or not is difficult to know. So, all their actions to this day as well as that of other organizations are kept within the so-called confidentiality but I think we just believe in their efforts more or less. contributes to human rights, as well as the release of prisoners of conscience.”
The families of prisoners of conscience that we had the opportunity to exchange on February 3, thanks to RFA Radio to send a message of gratitude to the international community, together with Vietnamese at home and abroad for concern and accompanying them.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
