Talk:Canh Thong Do

Referece of U.S. Citizen Canh Thong Do arrest by Vietnamese government
Vietnam accuses US activist of terror plot on American interests

Deutsche Presse Agentur Published: Friday September 8, 2006

Hanoi- Vietnamese authorities have accused a jailed US pro- democracy activist of plotting an attack on American interests in the country, the US ambassador said Friday. Cong Thanh Do, 47, a Vietnamese-born US citizen, has been held in detention since his arrest August 14, but Vietnam's government has refused to reveal what the charges against him are.

US Ambassador Michael Marine confirmed Friday night that authorities have told consular officials Do was suspected of plotting a terrorist attack against an unspecified US target.

"They were concerned that he was engaged in activities that might be a threat to a US interest in Vietnam," Marine said. "But we've seen no evidence that would support that. So, I believe that that is incorrect."

Vietnam's government spokesman Le Dung on Thursday acknowledged Do's arrest, but refused to say what Vietnamese law he is accused of breaking.

Human rights groups and a US congresswoman have decried Vietnam's detention of Do, a California resident who is a well-known advocate of free elections in Vietnam under the pen name "Nam Tran," as an unprecedented attempt to punish the free speech of a US citizen.

The Paris-based press-freedom group Reporters Sans Frontieres called the idea that a Vietnamese-American would travel to Vietnam to attack US interests "a bizarre accusation which does not appear to be based on any real facts."

Do has no apparent links to US-based Vietnamese exile groups that have in the past advocated violence against Hanoi's communist, an RSF spokesman said, adding that such anti-communist groups also tend to be strongly pro-American.

Earlier this week, US Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren vowed to work to free Do, whose detention she called "outrageous."

"The Vietnamese government has now taken the unprecedented step of imprisoning a United States citizen who states that he is being held solely because of his pro-democratic, non-violent views," said Lofgren, the representative of Do's city of San Jose, California.

Two Vietnamese pro-democracy activists have also reportedly been arrested in addition to Do, although Vietnam would not confirmed that.

The communist country has recently cracked down on the "8406 Group," a newly formed dissidents' organization that calls on the ruling Communist Party to allow free elections.

Marine said he hopes a Vietnamese investigation into Do's activities would be complete soon "so that he can hopefully be set free and be allowed to return home to the United States."

Cite - http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Vietnam_accuses_US_activist_of_terr_09082006.html

Officials call for activist's release S.J. POLITICIANS JOIN CRITICISM OF VIETNAM
Local and state officials Saturday joined the call for the release of a Vietnamese-American pro-democracy activist from San Jose who was arrested in Vietnam last month, urging Congress to hold up a key trade agreement until his freedom is secured.

Several San Jose council members plan to introduce a resolution next week urging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as leaders in Washington, to seek the release of Cong Thanh Do.

Do, an American citizen and Silicon Valley engineer, was arrested Aug. 14 in central Vietnam while vacationing with his family. The Vietnamese government accuses him of plotting a terrorist attack on an American government building in Vietnam, according to U.S. Embassy officials there. The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam said last week there is no evidence linking Do to any terrorist plot.

Do's supporters contend he was arrested by the communist government of Vietnam because he advocated for human rights and democracy in his homeland. Do was secretly a member of an underground political party that existed primarily on the Internet and wrote political essays under a pseudonym -- activities he hid even from his family.

``You cannot arrest an American in Vietnam for speaking his mind,'' said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, at a press conference Saturday held by the family and attended by three city council members. ``The behavior of the Vietnamese government violates all the rules between Vietnam and the United States. This is the most serious breach of a dire diplomatic nature that won't be tolerated.''

Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez and council member Chuck Reed -- both mayoral candidates -- and council member Madison Nguyen joined Lofgren and Van Tran, a prominent Vietnamese-American state assemblyman from Southern California, in urging Congress not to grant Vietnam permanent normal trading relations until Do is freed. That economic status is a necessary step in Vietnam's bid to join the World Trade Organization. Vietnam's entry into the WTO is expected before the end of the year.

Lofgren has been meeting with congressional leaders from both parties to seek Do's release. A high-level State Department official will be in Vietnam next week and will discuss Do's case with Vietnamese officials, Lofgren said.

``My goal is to make sure the Vietnamese understand that people who have supported them in the past are very concerned about this,'' said Lofgren, who has opposed granting Vietnam permanent normal trading relations because of human rights violations.

Without Do's release, Lofgren added, ``they can't get into the WTO. They must be out of their minds to do this.''

Even if Do is released, Reed wants congressional leaders to withhold granting normal trading relations with Vietnam unless it makes clear promises to improve human rights in the country.

Do's arrest is a ``blatant disregard for human rights,'' Reed said. ``You can't give them what they want without getting something in return. We can't trust that they'll respect human rights.''

Cite - http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/15485951.htm