Doan Van Vuon, who was detained after protesting the repossession of the public land rent out to his family, has supposedly asked to be represented by a lawyer.
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Doan Van Vuon, who was detained after protesting the repossession of the public land rent out to his family on January 5, has supposedly written a letter to ask to be represented by a lawyer in court.
Below is the content of the 2-page letter sent from prison on January 31.
“On January 5, 2012, being indignant over Tien Lang District’s People’s Committee’s Decision No. 37 to force our family to return the land to Vinh Quang Commune’s authorities without paying us compensation, my brothers and I tried to fight against them and injured some officials in the act, which led to our violations of the laws. Therefore, we have been indicted and held on remand at Tran Phu Prison managed by the northern city of Hai Phong’s Public Security and are waiting for a trial.
I have enough knowledge to be fully aware of my wrongdoings, but I want to plead for my violations. I would like to ask for permission from the investigation agency to invite lawyer Nguyen Viet Hung from Dong Do Law Firm based in Hanoi to represent me in court.
Lawyer Nguyen Viet Hung is the one I fully believe in and the only one I accept. I don’t accept other attorneys appointed by law enforcement agencies or any individual. If another lawyer (rather than Hung) would like to defend me in court, I would not accept and decline to work with him.
I repeat that I only accept lawyer Nguyen Viet Hung.
I would like to assure you that what I am writing is of my own will and I’m absolutely not forced by anyone to do this.
I cannot remember the contact address and phone number of lawyer Nguyen Viet Hung, so I would like to suggest the investigation agency help me ask Vu Van Luan living in Hung Thang Commune of Tien Lang District to provide Hung’s address.
I would appreciate the help of the investigation agency in this matter.
Hai Phong, January 31, 2012
Doan Van Vuon”
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