Nguyen Dan Que
Encyclopedia
Nguyen Dan Que, M.D. also known as Nguyen Chau (Nguyễn Châu), is a Vietnam
ese endocrinologist and pro-democracy campaigner. He is one of the leading dissidents against the communist government in Vietnam.
Que's political activism dates back to the 1970s. He was first arrested in 1978, for criticising the Government. Following a period in prison without trial, Que was released and set up the High Tide Humanists group, which, according to Human Rights Watch
, was a non-violent protest group aimed at bringing about social reform in Vietnam. Que was imprisoned again from 1990 to 1998. Human Rights Watch says that from then until 2003 he was under "virtual house arrest".
On March 17, 2003, Que was arrested for a third time. Four days previously Que had sent documents critical of the Vietnamese government over the internet to his brother in the United States. The documents endorsed US plans to fund ways of providing non-Governmental media and unmonitored internet access in the country.
On July 29, 2004, Que was found guilty of "abusing democratic rights to jeopardise the interests of the state, and the legitimate rights and interests of social organisations and citizens" by Ho Chi Minh People's Court. He was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment.
On February 2, 2005, International PEN
reported that Nguyen Dan Que was granted amnesty on the occasion of the Vietnamese new year. He left his internment camp and went to Ho Chi Minh City.
Que was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
in 1995.
Following the Jasmine Revolutions in early 2011, Dr. Que posted an appeal on the internet
for mass demonstrations in Vietnam. He was then detained by the authorities for "directly violating the stability and strength of the people's government".
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese endocrinologist and pro-democracy campaigner. He is one of the leading dissidents against the communist government in Vietnam.
Que's political activism dates back to the 1970s. He was first arrested in 1978, for criticising the Government. Following a period in prison without trial, Que was released and set up the High Tide Humanists group, which, according to Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, was a non-violent protest group aimed at bringing about social reform in Vietnam. Que was imprisoned again from 1990 to 1998. Human Rights Watch says that from then until 2003 he was under "virtual house arrest".
On March 17, 2003, Que was arrested for a third time. Four days previously Que had sent documents critical of the Vietnamese government over the internet to his brother in the United States. The documents endorsed US plans to fund ways of providing non-Governmental media and unmonitored internet access in the country.
On July 29, 2004, Que was found guilty of "abusing democratic rights to jeopardise the interests of the state, and the legitimate rights and interests of social organisations and citizens" by Ho Chi Minh People's Court. He was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment.
On February 2, 2005, International PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
reported that Nguyen Dan Que was granted amnesty on the occasion of the Vietnamese new year. He left his internment camp and went to Ho Chi Minh City.
Que was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award was created by the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial in 1984 to honour individuals around the world who show courage and have made a significant contribution to human rights in their country....
in 1995.
Following the Jasmine Revolutions in early 2011, Dr. Que posted an appeal on the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
for mass demonstrations in Vietnam. He was then detained by the authorities for "directly violating the stability and strength of the people's government".