Free Them Now

Born: 1949
Activity: Democracy activist, writer
Place of detention: B14 labour camp, in Ha Dong province, south of Hanoi.
Arrested: On September 11, 2008

Writer Nguyen Xuan Nghia was arrested in the night of September 11 when the police surrounded his house. He is one of the current representatives of Bloc 8406. In the past, he was arrested on April 29, 2008 at Dong Xuan market in Hanoi while preparing for a peaceful demonstration against the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay in Saigon. During his arrest the police subjected Nguyen Xuan Nghia to physical abuse using brutal excessive force. His face and chest slammed into walls and his body marred with injuries, Nguyen Xuan Nghia sustained injuries causing difficulties in breathing and swallowing. After being expelled back to his province in Hai Phong, Nguyen Xuan Nghia was placed in detention with the Hai Phong police. Despite his weakened physical condition, Nguyen Xuan Nghia was denied medical treatment. In 2008 the Human Rights Watch selected for him the prestigious Hellman/Hammett award.