Release International

A 62-year-old Christian has reportedly died in a Vietnamese prison after being tortured and deprived of food and water.

Siu Lul, a member of the Montagnard hill tribe, has been buried in Ha Nam where he had been in prison since 2004. His family was too poor to pay for his body to be transported back to his village.
Siu was from the village of Ploi Kueng, Habong commune, in Cu Se District, Gai Lai province. Although the nature of his conviction is unknown, persecution of the mainly Christian Montagnards over recent decades is well-documented.

Religious rights campaigners are now calling on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to boycott Vietnam which is currently seeking entry into the organisation. They want Vietnam to be held accountable for its poor human rights record before it is allowed to enjoy the benefits of fuller integration with the international community.

The timing is crucial: Hanoi and Washington have been holding discussions this month about Vietnam's entry into the WTO.

• Pray for Siu Lul's family. Pray that they will be comforted in the knowledge that Siu is now at peace and no longer in pain.
• Pray that the Vietnamese authorities will respond to international pressure on them to clean up their human and religious rights record.

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