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Vietnamese activists still in prison for asserting nation’s claims
Three months after their arrests, at least eight Vietnamese democracy activists continue to be held without formal charges for protesting government policies toward China. From September 10-23, 2008, Vietnamese security police detained Nguyen Xuan Nghia, Pham Thanh Nghien, Vu Hung, Ngo Quynh, Tran Duc Thach, Pham Van Troi, Nguyen Van Tuc, and Nguyen Van Tinh. (More...)
Wave of Repression Blankets Vietnam
Communist authorities in Vietnam have arrested several democracy activists in the middle of the night and placed many others under house arrest. These actions come amidst the sentencing of a prominent blogger and appearances of large banners in urban areas calling for multi-party democracy and leaflets protesting the government’s territorial concessions to China. (More...)
Promoting democracy through nonviolent means should not be a crime
Today in Saigon, in a trial lasting less than six hours, Vietnamese communist authorities convicted a member and two supporters of Viet Tan of “terrorism.”
Detained since November 17, 2007, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan received a sentence of six months and will be expelled from the country; Somsak Khunmi (also known as Nguyen Quoc Hai) received a sentence of nine months plus three years probation; Nguyen The Vu received a sentence of five months, twenty-six days plus one year probation. (More...)
Vietnamese government to bring to trial democracy activists Nguyen Quoc Quan, Somsak Khunmi and Nguyen The Vu
Communist authorities in Vietnam will bring to trial American citizen Nguyen Quoc Quan, Thai resident Somsak Khunmi and Vietnamese citizen Nguyen The Vu on May 13, 2008.
Nearly six months ago on November 17, 2007, security police in Saigon arrested members and supporters of Viet Tan as they were preparing to distribute leaflets promoting democracy through non-violent means. On November 19, Viet Tan issued a press release on the arrest of three members—American citizens Nguyen Quoc Quan and Leon Truong and French citizen Nguyen Thi Thanh Van—and of two supporters—Thai resident Somsak Khunmi and Vietnamese citizen Nguyen The Vu. On November 20, security police arrested a third supporter of Viet Tan, Vietnamese citizen Nguyen Viet Trung. (More...)
Vietnamese authorities free Nguyen Viet Trung while still detaining Nguyen Quoc Quan, Somsak Khunmi and Nguyen The Vu
On April 7, communist authorities released Mr. Nguyen Viet Trung, an associate of Viet Tan, after more than four months of detention without trial. Nguyen Viet Trung was arrested on November 20, 2007, three days after security police arrested Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan, Mr. Truong Van Ba, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, Mr. Somsak Khunmi and Mr. Nguyen The Vu as they were preparing to distribute pro-democracy literature. In the weeks following, state-control media branded the detained activists as “terrorists.” Due to international pressure, authorities released Truong Van Ba on December 11, 2007 and Nguyen Thi Thanh Van the following day. (More...)
Vietnamese authorities release three Viet Tan members detained on humanitarian visit
Today, April 5th, communist authorities expelled from Vietnam three members of Viet Tan: Nguyen Thi Xuan Trang, Swiss citizen, Mai Huu Bao, American citizen, and Nguyen Tan Anh, Australian citizen.
The three individuals were released 48 hours after being detained on April 3rd at the Ministry of Public Security detention center on Nguyen Van Cu street, district 1, Saigon. They had come there to visit Nguyen Quoc Quan, Somsak Khunmi, Nguyen The Vu and Nguyen Viet Trung who have been held for over four months after distributing pro-democracy literature. (More...)
Vietnamese police detain Viet Tan members for visiting imprisoned colleagues
Security police in Vietnam detained three members of Viet Tan as they went to visit colleagues who have been held for over four months at a Ministry of Public Security detention center in Saigon. (More...)
Testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Madam Chairwoman and Members of the Committee, Thank you for the invitation to testify today. I am here on behalf of Viet Tan, an unsanctioned pro-democracy party active in Vietnam. The goal of Viet Tan is to work alongside other Vietnamese democratic forces to bring about peaceful, non-violent political change through the power of the people. We believe that a free society is the best means to harness the tremendous potential of Vietnamese citizens and that a democratic Vietnam would be an anchor for prosperity and stability in Asia. (More...)
Norwegian MP visits Vietnamese democracy activists
Following a protest letter on January 29 from 20 Norwegian MPs to Hanoi president Nguyen Minh Triet, another Norwegian MP has offered his personal support for the Vietnamese democracy movement. Peter S. Gitmark, member of the Norwegian Storting, with the assistance of a Viet Tan member, Ms. Vo Hong, traveled through Vietnam to see democracy activists and inquire about the condition of individuals persecuted for their human rights advocacy. (More...)
Parliamentarians Continue to Protest Detention of Peaceful Democracy Activists by Vietnamese Government
“Norway as a nation is fully dedicated to encouraging democracy and protecting human rights throughout the world. With that being said, we are extremely concerned for Dr. Quan, Mr. Khunmi, Mr. Vu and Mr. Trung. It has been over two months since their arrests and they continue to be detained without formal charges or fair trials; which shows that the Government of Vietnam has failed to improve its human rights record.” (More...)
Press release # 9
Vietnamese government releases Nguyen Thi Thanh Van
Today in Vietnam, authorities released journalist Nguyen Thi Thanh Van—whose pen name is Thanh Thao—after 25 days of detention and accusing her of terrorist activities. She left on an evening flight and will arrive in Paris at 10:35am on Thursday, December 13th. (More...)
Press Release #8
Vietnamese government releases Leon Truong
Today in Vietnam, the government released Mr. Leon (Van Ba) Truong, whom authorities detained for the last 24 days and called a “terrorist” in an unrelenting campaign in the official press. (More...)
Press Release #6
American and French consular officials visit detained Viet Tan members
The fact that the Vietnamese authorities finally conceded to a consular visit with Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan after 16 days of detention—including initially denying the arrest and then stonewalling visitation requests—is the direct result of external pressure. (More...)
Press Release #4
Vietnamese communist authorities acknowledge detaining Nguyen Quoc Quan, Nguyen The Vu, and Nguyen Viet Trung
Pressured by international public opinion, elected officials from around the world, and the American, French, and Thai embassies, the Vietnamese communist government acknowledged the arrests of Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan, Mr. Nguyen The Vu, and Mr. Nguyen Viet Trung after ten days. The act of purposely hiding the detention of a foreign national by the Vietnamese communist government is a violation of international norms and laws. (More...)
Press Release #3:
Vietnamese communist authorities release Nguyen Trong Khiem, terrorize family of Nguyen The Vu, and continue to hide arrest of Nguyen Quoc Quan
On November 24, 2007, Vietnamese security police released university student Nguyen Trong Khiem, 18 years old, after detaining him for a week without cause. His health and spirits worn from a week of continuous interrogation and threats. Meanwhile, Nguyen The Ky—father of Nguyen Trong Khiem, Nguyen Viet Trung and Nguyen The Vu—a respected and active member of the Phan Thiet diocese, was placed under strict house arrest by authorities. (More...)
Press Release #2:
Vietnamese Communist Authorities Arrest Another Activist and Target Family of Nguyen The Vu
November 20th, Vietnamese security police arrested Nguyen Viet Trung, a Vietnamese citizen, in Phan Thiet. Born 1979, Nguyen Viet Trung is a businessman and younger brother of Nguyen The Vu. Mr. Trung is a young Vietnamese professional with a desire to see his country advance socially and politically. (More...)
Press Release #1:
On the Arrest of Viet Tan Members in Vietnam
Before their arrest, they participated in discussions with other democracy activists on 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. (More...)
