HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam on Thursday objected to the United States granting a prize for braveness to a dissident author jailed for 9 years for anti-state propaganda, describing her award as “unobjective and unsuitable”.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken introduced Pham Doan Trang as winner on Monday of an International Women of Courage prize at a ceremony attended by first girl Jill Biden, the place he condemned what he referred to as an unjust imprisonment.
Vietnam’s overseas ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang mentioned Trang had violated Vietnamese legislation, so the U.S. prize was “not conducive for the event of bilateral relations.”
Hang at a daily briefing mentioned Vietnam’s coverage was to “all the time safeguard and promote the essential rights of our residents, together with ladies’s rights.”
Ties between former conflict foes the United States and Vietnam have improved considerably in recent times, with elevated commerce and investments by U.S. companies, and common visits by presidents and high officers from Washington.
However, Vietnam’s human rights file has been a sticking level within the relationship, with the United States essential of the federal government’s intolerance of dissent and frequent jailing and harassment of those that communicate out.
Trang, who printed materials extensively on human rights and alleged police brutality in Vietnam, was detained by authorities hours after an annual U.S.-Vietnam human rights dialogue in October 2020.
She was sentenced to 9 years in jail in December final 12 months.
“Despite dealing with threats – fixed threats – she continued educating others about their rights,” Blinken mentioned of Trang.
“We condemn her unjust imprisonment. We name for her quick launch,” he mentioned.
(Reporting by Khanh Vu; Editing by Martin Petty)
