E/CN.4/2005/61/Add.1 Page 88 “There are an Islamic University, a Higher Clerical Institute, 10 Islamic madrasas and 2 seminaries in Uzbekistan, where representatives of the new generations pursue their education. “Moreover, on 22 August 2003, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan issued Decree No. 364 on rendering of social assistance and privileges for further improvement of spiritual and educational work in the religious sphere and the realization of an action plan on the protection of the people, especially the youth, from the threat of religious terrorism.” Observations 347. The Special Rapporteur would like to express her gratitude for the response sent by the Government and would like to recall that she has still not received a reply to her request for an invitation to visit the country. Viet Nam Communications and replies received 348. On 26 March 2004, the Special Rapporteur sent a communication to the Government of Viet Nam following up a previous communication of the Special Rapporteur of 7 October 2003 and the reply of the Government of 22 November 2003, regarding the case of Pham Van Tuong (alias Thich Tri Luc), who was sentenced to 20 months in prison on 12 March 2004 at a closed trial at the People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh City which lasted less than one hour. His family was not informed of the trial until the day before. No lawyer was present for his defence. Pham Van Tuong had already spent 19 months and 15 days in prison on charges of “fleeing abroad in order to oppose the Vietnamese Government”. Thich Tri Luc had reportedly suffered over a decade of persecution for his support of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV). 349. By letter dated 6 April 2004, the Government of Viet Nam indicated that the information provided to the Special Rapporteur was not true and that it wanted to reassure the Special Rapporteur that in Viet Nam the rights to freedom of religion or belief and freedom of non-religion or belief are clearly enshrined in the Constitution and laws and are guaranteed in practice. Torture and other forms of inhumane treatment and punishments are strictly forbidden. No one is arrested and punished on religious grounds; only those who violate the law are treated in accordance with the law. Article 70 of the 1992 Constitution of Viet Nam clearly states: “The citizen shall enjoy freedom of belief and of religion; he can follow any religion or follow none. All religions are equal before the law.... No one can violate freedom of belief and religion; no one can misuse belief and religion to contravene the law of the State policies”. Article 71 of the Constitution also stipulates: “The citizen shall enjoy inviolability of the person and the protection of the law with regard to his life, health, honour and dignity.... It is strictly forbidden to use any forms of harassment and coercion, torture, [or] violation of his honour and dignity against a citizen”.