Norwegian citizen and human rights activist Thuan Duc Nguyen has been arrested and jailed in Vietnam while facing investigations for terrorism and document forgery, according to statements confirmed by VG and Vietnamese authorities on September 18. The 52-year-old father of two, who lives in Oslo and has long advocated for political reforms through the political organization Viet Tan, disappeared after planning to travel to Cambodia to meet fellow activists.
Arrest of Thuan Duc Nguyen on the Vietnam-Cambodia Border
Vietnamese authorities confirmed the detention of Thuan Duc Nguyen alongside two other men near the border between Vietnam and Cambodia. Nguyen had been reported missing since September 18, when his travel plans to Cambodia to meet other human rights defenders were interrupted. Vietnamese officials have charged the 52-year-old Norwegian citizen with terrorism and document forgery. Viet Tan, a political organization working for democracy and political reforms in Vietnam, is officially listed as a terrorist organization by Hanoi.
Health Risks and Medical Needs for Detained Activist
The detention poses severe health risks for Nguyen, who is a diabetic requiring daily insulin injections. In a public statement signed by his brother, Thien Duc Nguyen, the family emphasized the critical nature of his medical condition while he remains in custody. Beyond his political activism with Viet Tan, Nguyen has maintained a long-standing active role in the Catholic Church in Norway, where he has consistently campaigned for religious freedom in Vietnam.
Viet Tan Condemnation and Demands for Norwegian Intervention
In a press release issued on Monday, Viet Tan strongly condemned the arrest, characterizing the operation as an orchestrated abduction of individuals abroad and a serious act of transnational repression. Helena Huong Nguyen, a media contact for Viet Tan in Europe, noted earlier in the week that Nguyen’s disappearance went beyond a standard missing person case due to his extensive history as a human rights defender. The organization has directly called on the governments of Norway and Australia, alongside international human rights bodies, to pressure Hanoi for the immediate and unconditional release of Nguyen and the two other detained men, while demanding that Norwegian diplomats receive direct access to him.
Reasons for arrest and medical concerns in custody
Why was Thuan Duc Nguyen arrested in Vietnam?
Vietnamese authorities arrested Nguyen near the border with Cambodia and are investigating him for alleged terrorism and document forgery due to his membership in Viet Tan, a political organization listed as a terror group in Vietnam.
What are the primary health concerns for Nguyen in custody?
According to a statement from his brother Thien Duc Nguyen, the 52-year-old Oslo resident has diabetes and requires daily insulin injections, making his detention medically critical.
What actions are human rights advocates taking regarding the detention?
Viet Tan has issued a formal press release condemning the arrest as transnational repression and is urging Norwegian and Australian authorities to secure direct consular access and demand an unconditional release.
What is Viet Tan’s official status in Vietnam?
Viet Tan is a political organization that advocates for democracy and political reforms in Vietnam, where the government classifies the group as a terrorist organization.
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