VIETNAMESE DISSIDENT PLACED UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION


2001.10.18

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 - Vietnamese authorities have placed scholar and dissident Tran Khue under "administrative detention" for two years as a result of his efforts to fight official corruption, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported Friday. The administrative detention order, a copy of which was seen here, bears the number 6494/QD-UB and the signature of Nguyen Thanh Tai, deputy chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. It was dated Oct. 9 and served to Khue on Oct. 17. Khue had been working to form an Association to Help the Party and Government Fight Corruption. RFA received an electronic image of the two-page order, with notes written by Khue indicating that he did not intend to report to police for daily questioning as usually required in cases of administrative detention. "Received on Oct. 17, 2001. I have decided not to present myself at the Ward Police Office until the Public Security people produce evidence that the establishment of an 'Association to Fight Corruption' is meant to oppose the government ... in which case I would like to be brought to trial at a court of justice. (Signed) Tran Van Khue." Radio Free Asia (RFA) is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting news and information to listeners in those Asian countries where full, accurate, and timely news reports are unavailable. Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA aims to deliver such news reports - along with opinions and commentaries - and to provide a forum for a variety of voices and opinions. RFA currently broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, the Wu dialect, Vietnamese, Tibetan, and Uyghur. It adheres to the highest journalistic standards and aims to exemplify accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content.

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