US protests over treatment of diplomat in Vietnam

[January 06, 2011]  HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- The U.S. government has strongly protested to Vietnam over the treatment of an American diplomat, the ambassador said Thursday. A media report said the human rights officer was roughed up while trying to meet with a prominent dissident.

U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia said Christian Marchant, a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, was attacked by police Wednesday outside the home of Catholic priest Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly in the central city of Hue.

Marchant was wrestled to the ground by authorities and later put into a police car and driven away, it said. Marchant's work on human rights was recently recognized with an award from the State Department.

The U.S. Embassy did not release specific details, but outgoing Ambassador Michael Michalak confirmed that an incident occurred Wednesday in Hue.

"The United States government, both here in Hanoi and in Washington, has lodged a strong, official protest with the government of Vietnam regarding the treatment of one of our diplomats," Michalak told reporters Thursday during his farewell press briefing.

He called the issue a matter of grave concern, saying foreign diplomats are protected under international law.

"All governments are responsible for complying fully with the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, including ensuring the safety and security of diplomatic personnel," he said.

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga said the government is reviewing the incident, but added that foreign diplomats also have a responsibility to abide by the host country's laws.

Ly, 63, one of Vietnam's best-known dissidents, was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2007 on charges of trying to undermine Vietnam's Communist government. He is now under house arrest after being released last year on medical parole.

During his trial, Ly shocked the court by shouting out in protest. Photos of a police officer covering Ly's mouth to try to silence him circulated worldwide. Several members of the U.S. Congress have repeatedly called for the priest's release.

The incident comes a week ahead of Vietnam's National Party Congress, when the country's new leaders will be announced. Rights groups have criticized crackdowns on dissidents, which have increased during the run-up to the event.

"We think the Vietnamese police are out of control," Phil Robertson of U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said by telephone from Bangkok.

He called on the Vietnamese government to properly investigate the reported incident in Hue and to take swift action in this and other cases of alleged police brutality.

The U.S. government has been a loud critic of Vietnam's human rights record, urging Hanoi to stop jailing pro-democracy dissidents and to allow followers of all religions to worship freely.

Michalak told reporters last month there was a spike in arrests and convictions in 2010 involving people peacefully expressing their views.

Vietnam's government does not tolerate any challenge to its one-party rule. It maintains that only lawbreakers are jailed.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.