Vietnamese communist authorities release Nguyen Trong Khiem, terrorize family of Nguyen The Vu, and continue to hide arrest of Nguyen Quoc Quan
November 24, 2007
On November 24, 2007, Vietnamese security police released university student Nguyen Trong Khiem, 18 years old, after detaining him for a week without cause. His health and spirits worn from a week of continuous interrogation and threats.
Meanwhile, Nguyen The Ky—father of Nguyen Trong Khiem, Nguyen Viet Trung and Nguyen The Vu—a respected and active member of the Phan Thiet diocese, was placed under strict house arrest by authorities.
In addition, the wife of Nguyen The Vu has been isolated and put under house arrest in Saigon, while neighbors tell of a smear campaign against her by police.
Currently, the following individuals remain under detention: Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Van (aka journalist Thanh Thao), Mr. Truong Leon, Mr. Somsak Khunmi, Mr. Nguyen The Vu, Mr. Nguyen Viet Trung. Of this list, the Vietnamese communist authorities continue to conceal the arrest of Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan.
These latest developments—release of university student Nguyen Trong Khiem, terror campaign against the family of Nguyen The Vu, and denial of the arrest of Nguyen Quoc Quan—demonstrate that:
1. The Vietnamese communist authorities are vulnerable to international pressure as evidenced by the release of one individual so far;
2. The initial victory is a consequence of the advocacy of people around the world, together generating a wave of protest from elected officials and non-governmental organizations;
3. The Vietnamese communist authorities, however, are still very capable of acts of terror as shown by the arbitrary arrest of university student Nguyen Trong Khiem, house arrest of Nguyen The Vu’s father and wife, and secret arrest of Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan.
Contact:
Duy Hoang +1 (202) 470-1678
Chi Dang +1 (408) 228-4892