November 10, 2010
On Wed, Oct, 27th 2010, one week after Mrs Vo Hong was freed, a Viet Tan delegation led by Mr Do Hoang Diem, Viet Tan Party Chairman, Ms Vo Hong, Dr Nguyen Do Thanh Phong, central committee member, and Mr Le Anh, Viet Tan representative for NSW, came to Canberra to thank the Australian Parliamentary members who interceded on behalf of Mrs Vo Hong and to update them on Vietnam escalation in the persecution of democratic activists. Mrs Vo Hong was one of the Viet Tan members who participated in the Hanoi demonstration to issue the declaration: « For Thang Long 1000 year anniversary, resist the threat to the North».
The day began in the early morning with the delegation being received by Representative Luke Simpkins MP in front of Parliament House. Rep. Simpkins MP expressed his indignation that Mrs Hong was arrested for terrorism under section 84 of Vietnam law when all she and other Viet Tan members did was distibute hats, shirts and warnings of threats from Northern borders. Afterwards, the delegation met in succession Rep. Bernie Ripoll MP, Rep. Chris Hayes MP and Rep. Kelvin Thomson MP. Senator Gary Humphries, a fervent supporter of a free and democratic Vietnam, also gave the delegation a warm welcome. All meetings took place within the Australian Parliament and with great success. Mrs Vo Hong thanked the Australian Representatives for their support and recounted for them the psychological torture she suffered during her 9 day detention. Mr Do Hoang Diem reported on the government escalating its persecution of the peaceful opposition inside Vietnam and also called for the Representatives continued support for Vietnamese political prisoners whose existence Hanoi always denied.
All the Representatives were elated to see the direct success of their effort in freeing Mrs Vo Hong and now they can see better the true nature of communist Vietnam. Mrs Vo Hong also visited the Australian Foreign Ministry to thank them for pressuring Vietnam on her behalf. It should be noted that when Mrs Vo Hong was freed on Oct. 20, 2010, eventhough Vietnam did not notify its consulate and it was late after work, an Australian Consulate representative was present at the airport to escort Mrs Vo Hong safely to her return flight. The Viet Tan delegation visit to Canberra ended at 5pm and left warm memories and good will among all participants.
