VIETNAM—The arrests of six members of the international Vietnamese Reform Party (Viet Tan) on November 17 and 23, has almost come to a suspense-filled end. The foreign nationals' embassies and families were not notified of the arrests until international pressure was brought to bear on the Vietnamese government.
The communist regime detained several democracy activists while preparing to distribute leaflets and others on accusations of "terrorist" activities, claiming they found a gun and ammunition in the luggage of a member while going through customs after deplaning in Ho Chi Minh City on November 23.
On November 17 and 23, 2007, Vietnamese security agents detained six pro-democracy activists including 3 members and supporters of the Viet Tan Party (VN Reform Party) and 3 other individuals in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).
Those arrested and detained included: Viet Tan Party (Reform Party) members: Dr. Nguyen, Quoc Quan, an American citizen from California, Ms. Nguyen, Thi Thanh Van, a French citizen and Mr. Leon Truong (Van Ba), an American citizen from Hawaii.
Other individuals included Mr. Nguyen, The Vu, a Vietnamese citizen, Mr. Nguyen, The Khiem, a Vietnamese citizen, and Mr. Khunmi, Somsak, a Thai citizen.
Before their arrest, they participated in discussions with other democracy activists on promoting a peaceful democratic change for Vietnam, a country that fell into the rule of the communist dictatorship after the collapse of South Vietnam in 1975. Specifically, they aspired to publicize information on successful non-violent struggles from around the world and to use these lessons to help empower the Vietnamese people to put an end to their continuous poverty and hardship. According to information received from the Viet Tan website at that time, it was not known where Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan was being held.
The remaining five pro-democracy activists were arrested at a local residence on Ton That Hiep Street, Ward 13, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City. They were taken initially to the Public Security Office in District 10 and then were reportedly sent to the main detention center in Ho Chi Minh City.
Interview with Dr. Quan's Brother
Mr. Tien Nguyen, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan's brother contacted the Vietnamese Epoch Times, or VET (Viet Dai Ky Nguyen) and confirmed the arrest of six pro-democracy activists by the Vietnamese authorities before knowledge of Dr. Nguyen whereabouts was known.
On November 29, Mr. Tien was interviewed by the Vietnam Epoch Times. Mr. Tien indicated that his brother is a member of the Viet Tan Party (VN Reform Party). He was also a Co-Founder and former Secretary General of the Vietnamese Professional Society located in California.
He was a high-school teacher in Kien Giang Province, South Vietnam. He immigrated to the United States in 1981 and graduated from the State University of North Carolina, Raleigh, in 1987 with a Ph. D. in Mathematics. He specialized in research on machine translation and is known as the architect of the Translation Software from English to Vietnamese.
He also indicated that his brother is married with two children and a resident of Sacramento, California.
Mr. Tien said, "Politically, as an advocate of democracy and freedom for Vietnam, my brother has spent most of his life for his country of birth. He takes risks to travel anywhere to publicize information on successful non-violent struggles from around the world and to use these lessons to help empower the Vietnamese people. Quan has done everything in accordance to the policies of the Viet Tan Party (VN Reform Party) that he believes this is what his former country needs."
The fact that the Vietnamese authorities arrested six democracy activists solely because of the peaceful expression of their beliefs and publicizing ideas on promoting democracy through peaceful, non-violent means obviously is a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Deeply Concerned—Remembers the Brutality
Mr. Tien recalled, "I have been through the atrocities in a re-education camp. Quan and I have experienced the horrible days of the 'boat people' during our escape from Vietnam. I am very concerned about the situation of my brother, his wife and two sons.
"I know that the brutal communist regime will do anything to harm my brother, once he is in their hands, provided their goals are met. I worry about his physical and mental condition. As a human being, it is difficult for him to endure torture and physical abuses. His family, particularly his two young innocent children, will no doubt suffer a lot. I worry for them as they are facing a new difficult situation as a result of the arrest of their father."
Mr. Tien indicated that he has contacted many people and organizations, including the Vietnam Epoch Times for help to request immediate and regular visitation rights to ensure the well-being of these individuals while in detention. In particular, to demand the Vietnamese government disclose the location and physical condition of his brother.
He also said, "I want the world community, including human rights organizations, and the international media to help demand the immediate release of these pro-democracy activists arrested on November 17 and 23, 2007 and all other democracy activists who are being imprisoned."
When asked about what measures he thinks the United States can take to pressure Vietnam to cooperate, Tien responded, "Put Vietnam back on the list of countries of particular concern. Terminate the right to permanent trade relations that Vietnam enjoyed after it entered the WTO."
Current News Releases from the Vietnamese Reform Party
Pressured by international public opinion, elected officials from around the world, and the American, French, and Thai embassies, the Vietnamese communist government finally acknowledged the arrests of the six democracy activists on November 28. Thereafter the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam confirmed the arrests on Tuesday, Dec 6, and the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City visited Dr. Quan. At the same time, according to AFP, the French Embassy was also allowed to visit Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, a French citizen and journalist. Ms Thanh Van is also a member of Viet Tan (VN Reform Party).
The delay in notifying the appropriate embassies of the arrests of the foreign nationals defies international law and agreements. Also unusual is the serial release of the detained. Mr. Nguyen Trong Khiem, an 18 year old Vietnamese citizen was released on November 24, his health and spirits worn after a week of interrogations and threats. Mr. Leon Truong (Hawaii, USA) and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Van (France) were released today.
Three others remain in detention, including Dr. Quan.
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