21/12/2012 JUA 27/12/2012 UA Case No Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply VNM 5/2012 Viet Nam Arbitrary detention; Cultural Rights; Freedom of expression; Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Human rights defenders; 28/02/2012 Alleged trial and imprisonment of two songwriters. According to information received, Mr. Vo Minh Tri and Mr. Tran Vu Anh Binh have been sentenced to four (4) and six (6) years of imprisonment respectively on the charge of ―conducting propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam‖, for posting the songs they authored on the internet. There were also allegedly accused of having links with an advocacy group for, among others, human rights and democratic reforms issues. Both singers write about social and human rights issues. LKA 7/2012 Sri Lanka Independence of judges and lawyers; 07/01/2013 Allegations of lack of fair trial and due process guarantees in the impeachment process of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, as well as attacks against and intimidation of lawyers. According to the information received, the impeachment process against the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Ms. Shirani Bandaranayake, which started when the motion was filed on 1 November 2012, does not respect the fundamental principles of fair trial and due process guarantees. In addition, it is reported that on 17 December 2012, a group of four unidentified men armed with automatic weapons attacked Mr. Gunaratne Waninnayaka, the president of the Colombo Magistrate's Court Lawyers' Association. On 20 December 2012, the house of the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Mr. Wijedasa Rajapakse, was reportedly attacked with gun fire by unknown persons. It is alleged that these attacks are directly related to the support voiced by the two lawyers and the Bar Association in favour of the independence of the judiciary, and that of the Chief Justice in particular. The impeachment of the Chief Justice and the reported attacks against prominent lawyers are allegedly taking place in a broader context of attacks on, threats to and interference in the independence of the justice system in Sri Lanka. An urgent appeal expressing serious concern about reported attacks on, threats to and interference in the independence of the justice system in Sri Lanka, including specific attacks against judges, was already sent on 2 November 2012 (see A/HRC/22/67, case no LKA 5/2012). A/HRC/23/51 32 Date Type