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.
Analysts: Resignation of Vietnam’s President Shows Party Infighting
Analysts say this month’s resignation of Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, one year into his five-year term, indicates infighting within the Communist Party and shakes the country’s reputation for political stability, a key driver of foreign investment.