October 13, 2010
Vietnam has confirmed it is detaining a Melbourne woman after she took part in a pro-democracy demonstration in Hanoi at the weekend, an Australian official says.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has identified the woman as “Ms Vo”, 57.
Vietnamese authorities say she is being investigated under Article 84 of the Penal Code, which covers a range of crimes from “moral intimidation” to terrorism, the spokesman said. “Consular officers are seeking advice from Vietnamese authorities of the specific offences under Article 84 for which Ms Vo is being investigated,” he said.
On Monday, a banned opposition party, Viet Tan, said one of its members, Hong Vo, was arrested on Sunday after speaking at the demonstration in the Vietnamese capital a day earlier. Viet Tan is based in the United States and describes itself as non-violent and pro-democracy, but Vietnam labels it a “terrorist organisation”.
Vietnamese authorities confirmed Ms Vo’s arrest on Tuesday, the DFAT spokesman said, adding that diplomats were seeking to visit the woman as soon as possible to provide her with consular assistance.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/vietnam-confirms-arrest-of-australian-20101013-16k6u.html
