Peaceful Activists Arrested In Vietnam
Vietnamese security police detained six members and supporters of Viet Tan (Vietnam Reform), an organization of overseas Vietnamese working for political change in the motherland, in Ho Chi Minh City. These activists were arrested after they participated in discussions with other pro-democratic groups and activists about promoting peaceful democratic change.
(Vocus/PRWEB ) November 24, 2007 -- On November 17, 2007, Vietnamese security police detained six members and supporters of Viet Tan (Vietnam Reform), an organization of overseas Vietnamese working for political change in the motherland, in Ho Chi Minh City. These activists were arrested after they participated in discussions with other pro-democratic groups and activists about promoting peaceful democratic change. Specifically, they aspired to publicize information on successful nonviolent struggles from around the world and to use these lessons to help empower the Vietnamese people.
Viet Tan identified the arrested members as Nguyen Quoc Quan, 54, or California and Leon Truong, 54, of Hawaii, both U.S. citizens born in Vietnam. French-Vietnamesee activist, Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, 51, a Vietnamese Thai national, Klunmi Somsak, 58, and two other Vietnamese citizens were also arrested. These members are Vietnamese patriots who share a common dream to establish democratic reform in the country. Their activities and those of all Viet Tan members center on principles of nonviolent struggle to mobilize the power of the people against a government that doesn't recognizes basic human rights and uses violence as a mean of suppression.
The Vietnamese government exerts strong control over media and political party in the county and has not yet commented and refused to discuss the arrests. As of Tuesday, November 20, there was no news of the crime they are accused of. The activists' respective embassies said they are now trying to find out what law they are accused of breaking. Viet Tan and family members of the detainees expressed "deep concern for the safety of these six individuals."
In the face of these arrests, Viet Tan calls on:
| | - Vietnamese inside and outside the country, in the spirit of unity and shared goal, to pressure the communist government to cease the acts of repression, terror, and imprisonment against peaceful democracy activists from inside and outside the country.
- The Vietnamese communist government to honor international covenants and immediately provide to the embassies and families of the arrested their exact whereabouts and condition.
- The Vietnamese communist government to respect the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, especially freedom of speech, and immediately release all the detained individuals as their only activity was to peacefully express their support for freedom and democracy.
- The American, French and Thai embassies to request that the Vietnamese authorities provide information on the whereabouts and personal safety of the respective nationals of these countries, and to have visiting rights for these nationals while they are in jail to ensure their safety and well-being.
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For the last two decades, Viet Tan has faced countless challenges. Committed to establishing democracy and reforming the country, Viet Tan will continue to be an active participant in the Vietnamese democracy movement and to work for the freedom of all political prisoners in Vietnam.
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