October 22, 2010
A MELBOURNE mother has vowed to continue fighting for democracy in Vietnam after being imprisoned without charge for 10 days for her part in a political protest in Hanoi.
Social worker Hong Vo, 53, was reunited with her family in Melbourne yesterday after a frightening 10-day ordeal that began when she was arrested on October 10.
Mrs Vo was locked in a cell with one other prisoner and threatened with terrorism-related offences. She had no contact with a lawyer, but saw an Australian consular official on Monday, the eighth day of her incarceration. Advertisement: Story continues below
’’It was extremely difficult because I was cut off from the whole world,’’ Mrs Vo said at Melbourne Airport yesterday.
Vietnamese authorities ultimately released her without charge, and escorted her directly to the airport in Hanoi. She doubts she will be able to return to Vietnam for many years.
’’It’s devastating. I should be free to enter the country,’’ she said.
Mrs Vo was arrested for joining in a public protest on October 9 by dissident organisation Viet Tan against China’s hold on two disputed island groups in the South China Sea, the Spratlys and the Paracels. The group, of which Mrs Vo is a member, handed out leaflets and wore bright blue T-shirts and caps, stating that Vietnam ought to defend the islands’ sovereignty.
Mrs Vo was the only protester arrested, after a local news report published her name and nationality, alerting authorities to her identity. She said she was relieved the other protesters were able to get away.
’’I feel that it is my duty to protect the others.’’
Viet Tan, also called the Vietnam Reform Party, is based in the United States and has members in Vietnam and throughout the Vietnamese diaspora. Vietnam’s communist government classifies it as a terrorist organisation. Viet Tan rejects any involvement in terrorism, saying it engages only in peaceful protest.
Viet Tan chairman Do Hoang Diem, who was among the airport welcome party, thanked Australian consular officials for their ’’wonderful’’ help in freeing Mrs Vo and said the group would ’’continue our fight to bring back democracy and freedom for the Vietnamese people’’.
Her son, Daniel Vo, said the family had a present waiting at home: ’’Lots of washing and laundry to be done.’’
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/activist-free-after-10-days-in-vietnam-prison-20101021-16w2e.html
