Pro-Democracy Lawyers Arrested in Vietnam
February 6, 2007
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The Australian Broadcast Company (ABC) and Stratfor are reporting that two pro-democracy lawyers have been arrested in Vietnam “as part of a crackdown on free speech.”  The two lawyers, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Chong Nhan, were arrested over the weekend along with four other pro-democracy activists.  The latter four have since been released, while the two lawyers have been held for “further questioning.”  According to the ABC, both lawyers that are still being held “organized a workshop on human rights law,” which is assumed to be the first human rights “training event” in Vietnam.

International press watch dog Reporters Without Borders has called for the release of the imprisoned lawyers.  The Vietnamese government is “currently harassing all known political dissidents,” placing many under constant police surveillance.  The group says that since “relaxing” controls on freedom of speech to enter the World Trade Organization, Vietnamese authorities have worked to “stifle the fragile pro-democracy movement.”

References:

Australian Broadcast Company: Claims dissident Vietnamese lawyers arrested
Reporters Without Borders: Free expression advocate Nguyen Van Dai detained and harassed
Stratfor: Vietnam: Pro-Democracy Lawyers Detained