Bloc 8406

Bloc 8406 (Vietnamese: Khối 8406) is a unified coalition of political groups in Vietnam that advocates for democratic reforms in Vietnam. It is named after the date of the group's Manifesto on Freedom and Democracy for Vietnam 2006 (Vietnamese: Tuyên Ngôn Tự Do Dân Chủ Cho Việt Nam 2006) declaring the need for democratic reforms in Vietnam. The manifesto was issued on 8 April 2006 and was signed by 118 dissidents calling for a multiparty state.[1] The support later grew into the thousands.[2]

Notable Bloc 8406 members

Roman Catholic priest Nguyen Van Ly was sentenced to eight years in prison on March 30, 2007 for his support of the group's manifesto.[3] He was released in 2011, but then he was returned to prison that same year.[4]

Lawyer and labor activist Tran Quoc Hien was accused of being a part of Bloc 8406 in his 2007 trial that led to a five-year prison sentence for "endangering state security".[5] He also posted articles critical to the government online, such as "The Tail", a description of life under government surveillance.[5]

Former Communist Party official Vi Duc Hoi joined the Bloc after leaving the party in 2007.[6] He was imprisoned in 2011 for "spreading anti-government propaganda" after posting copies of pro-democracy articles online.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Vietnam clamps down on democracy activists". United Press International. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  2. ↑ Shawn W. Crispin (14 September 2006). "Heed the call of Vietnam's Bloc 8406". Asia Times Online. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  3. ↑ Nguyen Van Tranh (30 March 2007). "Catholic Priest, Fr. Nguyen Van Ly, condemned to 8 years in prison". Asia News. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  4. ↑ http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/07/26/vietnam-father-nguyen-van-ly-should-remain-free
  5. 1 2 Human Rights Watch (2009). Not yet a workers' paradise: Vietnam's suppression of the independent workers' movement. Human Rights Watch. p. 24. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Viet Nam activist prison sentence condemned". Amnesty International. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Vietnamese dissident sentenced to 8 years in jail". Fox News. Associated Press. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2012.

External links

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