Lawyers Association ready for legal action against China (VOV) - The Vietnam Lawyers’ Association has announced it will support the government in drawing up necessary legal documents to file a petition against China’s provocations in the East Sea. The association made the announcement at a press briefing in Hanoi on June 25 where it released another statement protesting against China’s increased provocations in the region. It said it had released a statement on May 9, strongly opposing China’s positioning of its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and demanding that China withdraw its oil platform from Vietnam’s waters. In defiance of opposition from Vietnam and the international community, as well as Vietnam’s goodwill toward the peaceful settlement of the dispute, China has constantly carried out aggressive acts, escalating the tension in the region. Chinese vessels, backed by aircraft, intentionally rammed Vietnamese law enforcement boats, damaging their property and injuring people on board. On May 26 a Chinese fishing boat No 11209 sank a Vietnamese fishing boat DNA-90152, leaving 10 fishermen on board in distress. On June 1, Chinese ships fired water cannons at and rammed a Vietnam Coast Guard ship 2016, seriously damaging the Vietnamese ship. On June 23, 7 Chinese ships circled around a Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance boat KN-951 in the area 11.5 nautical miles southwest of Haiyang Shiyou-981, firing water cannons at and attacked the boat. It becomes apparent that China has used force to intimidate and attack Vietnamese law enforcement boats, infringing upon Vietnam’s sovereignty, violating human rights, and running counter to the UN Charter and international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), said the association in its statement. Chinese actions have not only affected the operation of Vietnamese fishermen and law enforcement agencies in Vietnam’s waters but also raised concerns among countries in the East Sea. Once again the Vietnam Lawyers’ Association strongly opposes and asks China to immediately withdraw its oil platform from Vietnam’s territorial waters, stop the use of force threatening the life of Vietnamese nationals and Vietnamese law enforcement forces, the statement said. The association also asks China to respect international law and stop similar actions that may escalate tensions and threaten security and maritime safety in the East Sea. It calls on the lawyers circles and justice-loving people worldwide to strongly condemn China’s violations of Vietnamese sovereignty, human rights, and international law. The association voices its desire to strengthen traditional friendship and cooperation between the people and lawyers of Vietnam and China, and work closely with China to protect international law, respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of every nation, and maintain peace, stability and security in the region and the world. If China intentionally neglects the UN Charter and international law, and violates Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction, the Vietnam Lawyers’ Association will resolutely ask the government to use legal action in accordance with international law, to deal with China’s escalating tensions in the East Sea, the statement said. VOV