A imprisoned Vietnamese pastor has been refused medical treatment for serious illnesses, according to International Christian Concern (ICC).
Nguyen Trung Ton was arrested in July last year with other members of his pro-democracy group, Brotherhood for Democracy. He was convicted of attempting to overthrow the communist government and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Imprisoned in Gia Trung Prison in the Central Highlands, he continues to suffer from wounds inflicted on his leg by security agents, according to ICC, and is virtually immobilised.
His wife, Nguyen Thi Lanh, undertook a 15-hour bus ride to see him. She told ICC: 'In October, me and others went to visit him, but the prison did not allow us to see him. They said due to health reasons he was unable to meet me.'
Travelling is challenging for her as she is the family's sole breadwinner and carer.
According to UCA News, Brotherhood for Democracy said that Pastor Ton told his wife on October 22 that he is suffering from a bacterial infection, kidney failure, and sleeplessness. 'His health is rapidly deteriorating due to being kept in bad conditions,' the group stated.
When his family sent medicine for him it was returned.
Gina Goh, ICC's regional manager, said: 'Based on humanitarian grounds, the prison should meet the medical needs of its prisoners. Yet Gia Trung Prison not only rejected crucial medical care for Pastor Ton, it prohibited his loved ones from visiting him. ICC calls on the international community to put pressure on the Vietnamese government so that Pastor Ton can receive the necessary treatment to treat his sustained pain.'
