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A global strain group representing writers, artists and journalists is presenting its prime award to Vietnamese creator, journalist and dissident Pham Doan Trang.
PEN America stated Thursday Trang would obtain the 2024 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award on Might 16 at a ceremony in New York.
The annual award is given to writers jailed for his or her views and actions. Trang, 45, was arrested in 2020 and accused of “anti-state propaganda.”
She was sentenced to 9 years in jail and despatched to An Phuoc Jail in Binh Duong province 1,448 kilometers (900 miles) from her residence, making it arduous to obtain household visits.
Trang has revealed a number of books about democracy, together with “Non-Violent Resistance,” “Politics for the Widespread Folks,” “A Handbook for Freedom Fighters,” and “Politics of a Police State.”
She additionally participated in writing bilingual reviews on human rights and democracy in Vietnam, notably the Dong Tam Report, written in regards to the lethal police land seizure within the suburbs of Hanoi in 2020.
“Pham Doan Trang has galvanized the Vietnamese folks by way of her writings on democracy, human rights, environmental degradation, and girls’s empowerment,” stated PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel.
“The Vietnamese authorities has persecuted and jailed Trang in an effort to nonetheless her voice.
“She has sacrificed her well being and freedom within the pursuit of justice.
“Regardless of the federal government’s crackdown on dissent and activism, her highly effective phrases proceed to encourage folks throughout Vietnam and all through the world.”
In 2019, fearing arrest, Trang launched a letter and video message saying, “I don’t need freedom for simply myself; that’s too simple. I would like one thing better: freedom for Vietnam. It would appear to be some grand aim, but it surely’s completely attainable – together with your assist.”
Trang has acquired many awards for human rights actions together with the Lady of Braveness Award 2022 from the U.S. State Division, the Media Freedom Award 2022 from the British and Canadian governments, the 2017 Homo Homini Award from Folks In Want (Czech Republic), the 2019 Press Freedom Award from Reporters With out Borders (RFS), the 2022 Martin Ennals Award, and the 2022 Worldwide Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Shield Journalists (CPJ).
PEN America has repeatedly referred to as for Trang’s launch and the repeal of the regulation below which she was prosecuted.
Trang’s lawyer Dang Dinh Manh, who fled to the USA fearing prosecution in Vietnam, and Trang’s good friend, Quynh-Vi Tran, co-founder and government director of Authorized Initiatives for Vietnam, who lives in Taiwan, will obtain the PEN/Barbey award on her behalf.
Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan.
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