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Vietnam detains rights lawyers | Vietnam detains rights lawyers |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Police in Vietnam have detained two lawyers who organised the country's first public training in human rights law. | Police in Vietnam have detained two lawyers who organised the country's first public training in human rights law. |
The two lawyers, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan , who are both democracy activists, were arrested on Saturday, other activists say. | |
The men were held for two days while their homes and offices were searched. | The men were held for two days while their homes and offices were searched. |
Efforts by Vietnam's small democracy movement to spread their message seem to have worried the authorities. | Efforts by Vietnam's small democracy movement to spread their message seem to have worried the authorities. |
Democracy activists in Hanoi say the two lawyers were taken away by police on Saturday as they held a discussion in Mr Dai's office on human rights law. | Democracy activists in Hanoi say the two lawyers were taken away by police on Saturday as they held a discussion in Mr Dai's office on human rights law. |
Last month they organised a similar workshop for a few university students - thought to have been the first public human rights training event in Vietnam. | Last month they organised a similar workshop for a few university students - thought to have been the first public human rights training event in Vietnam. |
Step too far | Step too far |
The two were released on Sunday night but then ordered to report to a police station the following morning for further interrogation. | The two were released on Sunday night but then ordered to report to a police station the following morning for further interrogation. |
The Vietnamese government says dissidents use the label of "democracy" to distort the situation in the country. | The Vietnamese government says dissidents use the label of "democracy" to distort the situation in the country. |
But so far they have tolerated the small and illegal democracy movement - although individuals have complained of police harassment. | But so far they have tolerated the small and illegal democracy movement - although individuals have complained of police harassment. |
However, this attempt to recruit new supporters seems to have been a step too far for the authorities. | However, this attempt to recruit new supporters seems to have been a step too far for the authorities. |
Around 2,000 people have declared themselves to be supporters of Vietnam's democracy movement - a tiny fraction of the country's population. | Around 2,000 people have declared themselves to be supporters of Vietnam's democracy movement - a tiny fraction of the country's population. |
There are several different groups which have often had differences - although in the past year they have worked more closely together. | There are several different groups which have often had differences - although in the past year they have worked more closely together. |
Their existence is never mentioned in the local press and most Vietnamese do not even know that they exist. | Their existence is never mentioned in the local press and most Vietnamese do not even know that they exist. |