Tran Quoc Hien

Who is Tran Quoc Hien?

Trần Quốc Hiền is a Vietnamese lawyer and author imprisoned by the Vietnamese government for his union activities. His detention was protested by several international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, which named him a prisoner of conscience.

Tran was director of a law firm in Ho Chi Minh City, where he specialized in defending farmers whose land had been confiscated by the government. He also posted articles critical to the government online, such as "The Tail", a description of life under government surveillance.

On 10 January 2007, Tran became the spokesman of the United Workers-Farmers Organization after four other leaders were arrested in advance of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit held in Vietnam. Tran had previously worked as a legal consultant for the group. Two days later, he was arrested. Authorities charged Tran with "spreading propaganda against the state" and "endangering state security". He was also accused of being a member of Bloc 8406, a Vietnamese pro-democracy movement.

Following a four-hour trial on 15 May 2007, Tran was found guilty on both charges. He was sentenced on 25 May to five years' imprisonment and two years' house arrest.