Vietnam Detains Australian and Norwegian Activists in Cambodia Border Dispute
Key Highlights
- Tran Hiep and Nguyen Duc Thuan detained by Vietnamese authorities in Cambodia.
- Third suspect, Thai Cong Truong Son, named by authorities.
- Viet Tan accuses Vietnam of abduction and human rights violations.
Vietnamese authorities have confirmed the detention of two pro-democracy activists. An Australian and a Norwegian citizen, in Cambodia, sparking outrage from human rights groups and diplomatic tensions between Vietnam and Australia.
Tran Hiep, an Australian citizen, and Nguyen Duc Thuan, a Norwegian citizen, were detained by Vietnamese authorities in the southern border district of Kaoh Andaet in Cambodia on September 18. According to a Vietnamese state media report. The two men had been travelling in Cambodia when they went missing and had not been heard.
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According to the report, Tran and Nguyen were detained along with a third man, Thai Cong Truong Son, who was named by authorities as a suspect in the case. The trio confessed to being members of the terrorist organisation 'Viet Tan,' [and] carrying forged documents to illegally enter Vietnam in order to carry out terrorist and sabotage activities,the report said.
A state orchestrating the abduction of individuals abroad and forcibly taking them to its territory is a serious act of transnational repression,said Viet Tan.It violates Cambodia's sovereignty and the fundamental principles of international law.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony, Albanese said. consular support was being provided to Tran's family.That's what Australian governments do for our citizens. And we'll continue to engage directly with the family.
Phil Robertson, Director of Asia Human Rights and Labor Advocates, said in a statement:Vietnam authorities' confirmation that they detained [these] activists. shows yet again that Hanoi is arguably the most vicious and pernicious practitioner of transnational repression today in Southeast Asia.
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This latest act is an unacceptable outrage, Robertson said.
The Vietnamese and Cambodian authorities have been contacted for comment.
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