Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has confirmed it is holding two ethnically Vietnamese activists who went missing in Cambodia earlier this month, accusing them of “terrorism” and document forgery rather than acknowledging any cross-border seizure.
The two men are Ho Pham Hiep Huy, a 50-year-old Australian citizen also known as Tran Hiep, and Nguyen Duc Thuan, a 52-year-old Norwegian citizen. Vietnamese authorities say they were arrested on September 18 while attempting to cross from Cambodia into Vietnam, alongside a 46-year-old Thai national, Thai Cong Truong Son. Officials allege all three were carrying forged documents and intended to “conduct terrorist and sabotage activities.”
All three are reportedly affiliated with Viet Tan, a U.S.-based pro-democracy organization that Hanoi’s Communist government has long designated a terrorist group. Viet Tan describes its own mission as establishing democracy in Vietnam “through peaceful means.” Human Rights Watch has rejected the terrorist label outright, saying the group “operates openly and lawfully in many countries” and has been branded a terrorist organization by Hanoi as a tool to crush dissent.
According to Viet Tan, Thuan and Hiep flew into Cambodia on September 15 for meetings with fellow activists and were scheduled to fly home on September 19. They had no stated plans to enter Vietnam. When they failed to board their return flights, the group declared them missing.
Hiep’s wife, Chloe Dang, told Australian reporters her husband was supposed to meet her in Bangkok before flying home to Australia. “He always knew there was a risk doing human rights work, but we never thought that this would happen,” she said.
Group Alleges Abduction, Not Arrest
Viet Tan disputes Hanoi’s version of events entirely, calling the case “an act of transnational repression” dressed up with fabricated charges. “Viet Tan strongly condemns the abduction of two of its members in Cambodia and the fabricated charges issued by the Vietnamese communist authorities to cover up an act of transnational repression,” the organization said in a statement issued Monday.
“This act of transnational repression followed by fabricated charges demonstrates just how brutish and lawless the To Lam regime really is,” said Viet Tan executive director Duy Hoang.
Hoang added that the case should give pause to any foreign business dealing with Hanoi. “Transnational repression is an affront to the rule of law, sovereignty and common decency. Every Australian or Norwegian investor or businessperson should think twice before trusting the promises of the Vietnamese government,” he said.
Hoang said both men are Catholic, and prayer vigils have since been held on their behalf. Viet Tan also noted Thuan is diabetic and requires daily insulin, saying he “must be guaranteed full access to medication and medical care.” The group has not confirmed whether the third detained man, Thai Cong Truong Son, is also a member.
Viet Tan released a report just last week accusing Communist Party chief To Lam of extending repression well beyond Vietnam’s borders, stating that “repression is no longer confined to Vietnamese territory, but increasingly targets political exiles, refugees, bloggers, human rights defenders, and members of the Vietnamese diaspora residing in democratic countries.”
International Reaction
Phil Robertson, director of Asia Human Rights and Labor Advocates, said the case fits a broader pattern. “Vietnamese authorities’ confirmation that they detained human rights and democracy activists Nguyen Duc Thuan and Tran Hiep demonstrates yet again that Hanoi is arguably the most vicious and pernicious practitioner of transnational repression today in Southeast Asia,” he said, calling on Norway and Australia to “lead a global effort to penalize Vietnam’s flouting of both international human rights law and the sovereignty of neighboring states.”
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it is “making urgent inquiries with Vietnamese authorities to confirm reports that an Australian citizen has been detained.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed consular assistance is being provided to Hiep’s family. “That’s what Australian governments do for our citizens. And we’ll continue to engage directly with the family,” he said.
Chloe Dang told the Guardian she remains “really worried about his safety,” adding: “My husband deserves protection, and I really hope the Australian government will continue to put pressure on Cambodia to do an investigation to find out where he is right now.”
