Blogger Dieu Cay is on day 29 of hunger strike

Danlambao - As of July 21, 2013, blogger Dieu Cay - Nguyen Van Hai, has gone on a hunger strike for 29 consecutive days in No. 6 Prison in Thanh Chuong, Nghe An Province. This is the hunger strike to protest against the brutal disciplinary decision of prison officials to put the blogger in solitary confinement for 3 months for refusing to sign a 'confession' prepared by police.

Turning 61, Dieu Cay’s prolonged hunger strike in a solitary confinement is threatening his life seriously, and can even lead to his death at any time.

Reportedly, previously prison police at No. 6 Prison (Thanh Chuong - Nghe An) had used many tactics to force Dieu Cay to sign a 'confession.' However, he has firmly refused to do it. Consequently, prison police imposed a brutal punishment of 3 months solitary confinement against him.

When Dieu Cay was locked up in the solitary confinement room, prison police threw in four packs of instant noodles for him. So far, those noodles remain unopened.

The family said on June 24, 2013, Dieu Cay attempted to send a complaint to the People's Procuracy of Nghe An Province to accuse illegal actions committed by prison police at No. 6 Prison to force prisoners to plead guilty. However, his compliant so far has not been answered.

Possibly prison police has concealed Dieu Cay’s complaint in order to cover up their wrong doings as they had done so in the past.

Mrs. Duong Thi Tan, Dieu Cay’s ex-wife, said that at a meeting with prison officials on July 20, Mr. Nguyen Van Dieu, a police captain, told the family "we have forwarded the complaint of Mr. Hai to the People's Procuracy of Nghe An Province."

Tomorrow morning, July 22, 2013, Mrs. Duong Thi Tan and her son, Mr. Nguyen Tri Dung, will go to the People's Procuracy of Nghe An Province to make inquiry about Dieu Cay’s recent complaint. She said the family is going to request for a prompt action from the People's Procuracy office on the matter because Dieu Cay’s life is in great danger that he could die at any time. 

During a short visitation that lasted less than 5 minutes on July 20, 2013, Dieu Cay’s son said his father told him his health has been degraded very badly. Even so, he vowed to fight to the end, as he said, 'even though I have to die!'

At the end of the visitation, Mr. Nguyen Tri Dung cried and told his mother in tear "I cannot recognize dad."

No. 6 Prison reports to the Ministry of Public Security. Located deeply in the Thanh Chuong mountain of Nghe An Province, it is a notoriously brutal prison. Colonel Nguyen Viet Hoan is the chief warden. He and his staffs will be held accountable should any wrong happen to the life of blogger Dieu Cay.