US calls Vietnam's blogger sentence harsh, deeply troubled by abduction reports


Washington has sought to develop close ties with Vietnam, but Hanoi’s treatment of dissidents remains an irritant. - PHOTO: EPA-EFE via THe Straits Times/ANN

WASHINGTON Oct 31 (Reuters) - The United States said late on Thursday it was concerned by Vietnam's conviction and "harsh" sentencing of blogger Duong Van Thai, and deeply troubled by reports he was abducted by Vietnamese authorities in Thailand.

The Committee to Protect Journalists cited media reports as saying that a Hanoi court sentenced Thai to 12 years in prison and three years of probation on Wednesday on charges of anti-state propaganda. It said he had gone missing in Thailand and was later taken into Vietnamese custody in April 2023.

"We are concerned by the conviction and harsh sentencing of Duong Van Thai," a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said. "We also remain deeply troubled by reports alleging Duong Van Thai was abducted by Vietnamese authorities in Thailand and forcibly returned to Vietnam."

Washington has sought to develop close ties with Vietnam, a Southeast Asian country that shares concerns about China's growing power, but Hanoi's treatment of dissidents remains an irritant.

Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative, called Thai's sentence "an outrage."

"Thai should be released immediately and allowed to leave Vietnam," he said in a statement.

Vietnam's Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The CPJ said Thai fled to Thailand in 2019, fearing persecution for his journalism, and was given refugee status by the United Nations refugee agency’s office in Bangkok. It cited multiple reports that he was interviewing for third-country resettlement at the time of his apparent abduction and deportation to Vietnam.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Rod Nickel) - Reuters

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Vuetnam , US , Unhappy , Jail Sentence , Blogger

   

Next In Aseanplus News

Trend of using statutory declarations to support ID document applications must stop, says Kitingan
After iPhone 16s, Indonesia blocks Google Pixel phones, says Kontan
Asian stocks mostly fall, tracking global slide
Filipinos brave crowds, flooding for All Saints' Day cemetery visits
China surrogacy abandonment case being investigated after online criticism
NBA legend Yao Ming quits after seven years as head of Chinese basketball
Taiwan cleans up after Typhoon Kong-rey leaves two dead
Jury chooses life in prison for man who killed two from Vietnam in Las Vegas hotel room in 2018
To tackle plastic scourge, Philippines makes companies pay
China launches Shenzhou-19 spacecraft, carrying country’s third female astronaut

Others Also Read