FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2017
Contact: Duy Hoang +1 202 596 7951
Washington, DC — Vietnamese security agents attacked four activists of Vietnamese origin, including a senior member of Viet Tan, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
At around 10pm on September 2nd, Vietnamese security agents riding on motorcycles threw acid on the four individuals as they were walking down a street. Nguyen Ngoc Duc, a member of Viet Tan’s leadership, was severely injured and flown to France for medical treatment. He is currently in a stable condition. The three other individuals received lighter burns and are currently recovering.
Nguyen Ngoc Duc, born 1955, is a computer engineer based in France. He is a long time Viet Tan member and a trainer on strategic nonviolent action and movement building.
In recent years, Vietnamese authorities have resorted to threats, physical intimidation, and violence to silence activists and human rights defenders. From assaults perpetrated by police-hired thugs to beatings and harassment by security forces, the Vietnamese government is acting with impunity. With the recent attacks on foreign soil, the Vietnamese authorities are also violating international laws.
Viet Tan condemns these acts of state-sponsored terror. We call on the international community to hold the Hanoi government accountable for this latest gross human rights violation.
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