A prisoner of conscience in Vietnam
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《英国医生杂志》
EDITOR—In Vietnam, freedom of expression is limited, and this restriction has an impact on health services. Nguyen Dan Que has spent nearly half his professional life in prison for peaceful protest. He is an internationally trained doctor, capable of making a valuable contribution to his country's health service.
Dr Que studied medicine at Saigon University and joined the teaching staff of the university's medical school. He specialised in thyroid diseases and diabetes and in 1968-72 carried out research in Paris, Brussels, and London under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization. In 1974 he returned to Vietnam to join the Saigon University Faculty of Medicine. In 1975 he became director of Cho-Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. He soon became disillusioned with the new government's healthcare policies and expressed criticisms openly; he was dismissed as hospital director.
In February 1978 Dr Que was arrested and imprisoned without trial, under harsh conditions, for 10 years. He was adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International and released in 1988. He was prevented from practising medicine. He refused to emigrate despite being invited to do so by the authorities. He became the first member of Amnesty International in Vietnam. In 1990, inspired by the democratic movements in eastern Europe, Dr Que founded the "high tide of humanism" movement (Cao Trao Nhan Ban), a non-violent movement for human rights. Its manifesto called on people in Vietnam and abroad to sign a petition demanding non-violent political, social, and economic change for Vietnam.
As a result he was arrested and in November 1991 tried for, among other things, planning to overthrow the government and being a member of Amnesty International. He was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment and five years' house arrest. He was long kept in solitary confinement and developed hypertension and a duodenal ulcer. Perhaps as a result of international campaigning he was released under a special amnesty in September 1998.
After his release, Dr Que faced constant surveillance amounting to harassment, including having his phone and access to the internet cut on numerous occasions. On 17 March 2003, he was arrested again, reportedly while on his way to an internet cafe. He was sentenced after a grossly unfair trial, despite a wave of international protest, to two and a half years' imprisonment.
His health has reportedly worsened in prison. He requires drug treatment for hypertension and has a bleeding peptic ulcer and kidney stones. Drug treatment is reportedly delivered to prison, but it is not known whether he receives it or any other medical care.
The Health Professionals' Network of Amnesty International is calling for support for Dr Que. Only intensive international campaigning can help him receive medical treatment and his release.
Duncan Forrest, editor, Amnesty International UK Health Professionals' Network Newsletter
Health Professionals' Network, Amnesty International, London EC1R 4RE
Duncan Forrest died on 4 December 2004. An obituary will be published in the BMJ soon. The contact for this letter is Natalie Smith, coordinator, UK Health Professionals' Network, Amnesty International, London EC1R 4RE (natalie.smith@amnesty.org.uk).
Dr Que studied medicine at Saigon University and joined the teaching staff of the university's medical school. He specialised in thyroid diseases and diabetes and in 1968-72 carried out research in Paris, Brussels, and London under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization. In 1974 he returned to Vietnam to join the Saigon University Faculty of Medicine. In 1975 he became director of Cho-Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. He soon became disillusioned with the new government's healthcare policies and expressed criticisms openly; he was dismissed as hospital director.
In February 1978 Dr Que was arrested and imprisoned without trial, under harsh conditions, for 10 years. He was adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International and released in 1988. He was prevented from practising medicine. He refused to emigrate despite being invited to do so by the authorities. He became the first member of Amnesty International in Vietnam. In 1990, inspired by the democratic movements in eastern Europe, Dr Que founded the "high tide of humanism" movement (Cao Trao Nhan Ban), a non-violent movement for human rights. Its manifesto called on people in Vietnam and abroad to sign a petition demanding non-violent political, social, and economic change for Vietnam.
As a result he was arrested and in November 1991 tried for, among other things, planning to overthrow the government and being a member of Amnesty International. He was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment and five years' house arrest. He was long kept in solitary confinement and developed hypertension and a duodenal ulcer. Perhaps as a result of international campaigning he was released under a special amnesty in September 1998.
After his release, Dr Que faced constant surveillance amounting to harassment, including having his phone and access to the internet cut on numerous occasions. On 17 March 2003, he was arrested again, reportedly while on his way to an internet cafe. He was sentenced after a grossly unfair trial, despite a wave of international protest, to two and a half years' imprisonment.
His health has reportedly worsened in prison. He requires drug treatment for hypertension and has a bleeding peptic ulcer and kidney stones. Drug treatment is reportedly delivered to prison, but it is not known whether he receives it or any other medical care.
The Health Professionals' Network of Amnesty International is calling for support for Dr Que. Only intensive international campaigning can help him receive medical treatment and his release.
Duncan Forrest, editor, Amnesty International UK Health Professionals' Network Newsletter
Health Professionals' Network, Amnesty International, London EC1R 4RE
Duncan Forrest died on 4 December 2004. An obituary will be published in the BMJ soon. The contact for this letter is Natalie Smith, coordinator, UK Health Professionals' Network, Amnesty International, London EC1R 4RE (natalie.smith@amnesty.org.uk).