1942 Born in Ha Dong.

1965 Received Bachelor degree in education from University of Saigon.

1971 Received Doctorate in education from Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Returned to Vietnam and is appointed Vice President of Van Hanh Buddhist University in Saigon.

Aug. 28, 1976 Arrested without charge during a government campaign to "re-educate" South Vietnamese intellectuals, and detained without trial in Chi Hoa prison in Ho Chi Minh City for 12 years.

Feb. 9, 1988 Released from prison; release form charged Dr. Hoat with having been an "anti-socialist reactionary."

Nov. 17, 1990 Arrested at his home in Ho Chi Minh City, because of his release of the Freedom Forum newsletter, and held without charges at Unit 4, Phan Dang Luu jail in Ho Chi Minh City for 27 months. This was a gross violation, of the obligation to set a reasonable limit on pre-trial detention, on the part of the Vietnamese communist regimeï

May 28, 1992 The state-run Saigon Giai Phong newspaper published an article entitled, "Smash the Dark Schemes of the Reactionaries at Their Sources," condemning Dr. Hoat and other Freedom Forum participants.

June 14, 1992 Dr. Hoat's wife, Tran Thi Thuc, from fears that the Saigon Giai Phong article effectively announced a verdict on his case before he was even tried, publicly released a letter to the authorities clearly stating that the publication of the article violated her husband right to an impartial trial.

Nov. 1, 1992 Dr. Hoat issued a public statement from prison to the leaders of the Communist Party calling on them to launch the process of "dialogue and national reconciliation among all Vietnamese Patriots within and outside the Communist Party, as well as inside Vietnam and overseas." The letter called for the release of all political detainees, and the implementation of civil and political freedoms.

March 23, 1993 Transfered to Chi Hoa Prison, Sai Gon (Ho Chi Minh City).

March 30, 1993 In a two-day closed trial, Dr. Hoat was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on the charge of "attempting to overthrow the government." Closed trials grossly violate article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Vietnam is a signatory.

May 27, 1993 Asia Watch called upon the Vietnamese government to allow international observers to attend the appellate hearing of Dr. Hoat and the other Freedom Forum members.

July 9, 1993 Dr. Hoat received a token sentence reduction from 20 years imprisonment to 15 years imprisonment with 5 years to paroleï This two day hearing was not announced or made open to the public, although family members of the defendants were permitted to attend.

July 17, 1993 Transferred to labor camp Z30D, Ham Tan, Thuan Hai province.

Sept 1, 1993 Dr. Hoat released letter from inside Ham Tan labor camp in which he wrote: "If brute force appears to overcome us momentarily, we can not be overcome... we must not abandon the way of non-violent, peaceful struggle."

Nov. 10, 1993 A public letter by Dr. Hoat entitled "Human Rights from the Human and Social Perspectives" was delivered to visiting Australian Senator Jim Short and was later published in Australia on International Human Rights Day, December 10, 1993. The authorities denied Senator Short's request to meet Dr. Hoat during his trip, but he did meet with Dr. Hoat's wife, Tran Thi Thuc.

Following Senator Short's visit, Dr. Hoat was transferred to Chi Hoa Prison in Ho Chi Minh City, where he was kept in a small crowded cell, and denied access to his family, who were also prevented from bringing him medical supplies.

Dec. 16, 1993 Dr. Hoat was moved to camp A20 of Xuan Phuoc prison in the far northern province of Phu Yen. This prison, reported to be one of the worst in Vietnam, is a three day jouney from Ho Chi Minh City, and is very secluded from all populated centers.

Jan. 1, 1994 Dr. Hoat released a letter from Xuan Phuoc entitled "Summary Report on Human Rights in Vietnam," which documented human rights and civil rights violations in Vietnam, and suggested policies to improve the situation.

Jan 20, 1994 Dr. Hoat sent a letter from Xuan Phuoc to the National Conference of the Communists Party of Vietnam, suggesting ways to establish a multi-party democracy.

Feb. 24, 1994 Transferred to the remote Ba Sao labor camp in Phu Ly, Nam Ha province in northern Vietnam.

Early Apr.1994 Dr. Hoat and four other prisoners were placed in leg and arm shackles for refusing hard labor duties. Dr. Hoat began a hunger strike in response to their being shackled.

Apr. 22, 1994 Human Rights Watch/Asia and the U.S. Department of State requested information from the Vietnam's Mission to the UÏN. regarding Dr. Hoat's situation upon learning of his shackling arm shackles for refusing hard labor duties. Dr. Hoat began a hunger strike in response to their being shackled.

Apr. 22, 1994 Human Rights Watch/Asia and the U.S. Department of State requested information from the Vietnam's Mission to the UÏN. regarding Dr. Hoat's situation upon learning of his shackling and hunger strikeï

Apr. 24, 1994 Dr. Hoat was transferred to a camp for hardened criminals at Thanh Cam prison, in Thanh Hoa province northern Vietnam. from the Thanh Hoa provincial capital by bus and ox cart.

It is currently unknown whether Dr. Hoat is continuing his hunger strike, or if he is still being held in shackles, as none of his family members has been permitted to visit him since early February. His physical condition has steadily deteriorated since his latest imprisonment, and he critically suffers from a kidney disorder for which he requires regular medication.

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