U.S. Department Of State Condemns The Conviction And Sentencing Of Pham Doan Trang

DECEMBER 14, 2021- The U.S Department of State (DOS) released a press statement condemning the conviction of Vietnamese author and journalist, Pham Doan Trang. This statement comes after the conclusion of her trial in which the Vietnamese court found her guilty under Article 117 of the Penal Code for “propagandizing against the State”. She was sentenced to 9 years of imprisonment.

Department Spokesperson of the DOS, Ned Price, affirms that “[the] United States calls on the Vietnamese government to release Trang, who has been recognized internationally for her work to advance human rights and good governance in Vietnam, and to allow all individuals in Vietnam to express their views freely and without fear of retaliation.”

The DOS also urges the Vietnamese government to “ensure its laws and actions are consistent with the human rights provisions of Vietnam’s Constitution and Vietnam’s international obligations and commitments.”

Trang’s Final Statement

Following her conviction, The Vietnamese Magazine received a document from Pham Doan Trang’s family containing her final words. She wished that her words be made public in case she was not allowed to deliver it herself in the courtroom.

In her statement, she continues to denounce the Vietnamese government for their overreaction to dissenting ideas, valid criticism, and for simply writing works or responding to interviews with foreign journalists.

She ends by stating that “you may imprison me and bask in celebration for eliminating a longstanding thorn in your eye, but you will never be rid of your ugly, authoritarian, undemocratic, anti-democratic reputation. Because an animal is forever an animal; it can never become human.”

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The statement of the U.S. Department of State can be found here.

To read the full text of Pham Doan Trang’s final statement, click here.

To show your support for Pham Doan Trang, click here.