Vietnamese activists ‘abducted’ in Cambodia, says campaign group

Vietnamese authorities have allegedly abducted two pro-democracy activists in Cambodia, according to the country's pro-democracy campaign group. Nguyen Duc Thuan, a Norwegian citizen, and Australian national Tran Hiep were reportedly taken to Vietnam and detained on fabricated terrorism charges. The activists were last seen on September 18 while traveling to meet with other Vietnamese activists in Cambodia, and have been missing ever since.

Vietnam's security apparatus is suspected of extending its reach beyond its borders, with dissidents previously being abducted in Thailand and Germany. The terrorism charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail. A spokesperson for the campaign group, Viet Tan, stated that the men were forcibly brought to Vietnam and detained on fabricated terrorism charges.

They have been reported missing since September 18, when they were traveling to meet with other Vietnamese activists in Cambodia. The public security ministry confirmed that Thuan, Hiep, and a third Vietnamese man were detained on charges of terrorism and forging documents. The ministry claimed that the men attempted to enter Vietnam illegally from Cambodia on the night of September 18 and admitted to being Viet Tan members and carrying forged documents.

The terrorism charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail. Viet Tan's US-based executive director, Duy Hoang, expressed concern over the situation, stating that Thuan and Hiep had no intention of entering Vietnam and were being charged with belonging to Viet Tan. Hoang emphasized that Hanoi is cracking down on dissent, both within and outside of Vietnam, and called for political change in the country.