In a decision announced on September 22, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) in Geneva ruled favourably to a petition regarding the detention of Vietnamese activist Nguyen Dang Minh Man. In a response to the petition submitted by Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI), the Working Group determined her detention was arbitrary and called for her immediate release. The text of Opinion 40/2016 can be found below.
Vietnam Parliament chief resigns amid anti-corruption probe
The head of Vietnam’s Parliament, Vuong Dinh Hue — who was believed to be a leading contender for Vietnam’s top office — has resigned amid a corruption investigation into a real estate firm. Some activists say a power struggle within the Communist Party is the underlying cause of Hue’s downfall.