Hong Vo
Encyclopedia
Hong Vo is a Vietnamese Australian
social worker from the Melbourne
and member of pro-democracy organization Viet Tan
who was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City
in Vietnam
on October 10 2010 for participating in a peaceful political demonstration in Hanoi, Vietnam affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly islands
. She is being held under Article 84 of Vietnam's penal code, which is often used to charge and convict pro-democracy activists.
. She is a single mother of two, and has been active in the Vietnamese community.
to affirm Vietnamese sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands
. During the rally which was attended by approximately 70 people, she passed out leaflets, t-shirts, and hats in relation to the Paracel and Spratly Islands dispute.
She was then arrested in the evening of October 10 2010. The arrest occurred at the airport in Ho Chi Minh City
, as Mrs. Vo was boarding a plan to Bangkok
. Her son was on a phone call with her, when the call ended abruptly. She was then put into detainment without access to a lawyer.
While Viet Tan has alerted the international community on her arrest already on October 11 2010, authorities in Vietnam did not confirm the arrest until October 12 2010. She was held under Article 84 of Vietnam's penal code, which is often used to charge and convict pro-democracy activists. During her arrest, her exact whereabouts are unknown, and other than a confirmation that she has been arrested, no further information has been provided by the government.
In a later interview, Vo described that she shared a cell with another prisoner, and was completely isolated from the world. Vo received a visit from the Australian consulate on October 18 2010
She returned to Australia after a total of ten days of detainment. From her experience, she comments that "she will struggle to return to the country of her birth after spending 10 terrifying days in a Vietnamese jail."
, who personally knows Ms Vo well from her community work, promised to file a protest with the Vietnamese Embassy. He comments, "I will tell them how annoyed I am that they have arrested an Australian citizen and incarcerated her. It's totally inappropriate. Especially since we're talking about people handing out leaflets in relation to democracy, not actually any criminal acts".
A Facebook
fan page has been created, as well as an online petition to ask for Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard
's assistance in releasing Ms Vo has been created.
Upon her release Viet Tan spokesman Duy Hoang comments that "By releasing her now, the Hanoi government admits that it unjustly detained Hong Vo and that what it labels 'terrorism' is in fact peaceful demands for democracy. Viet Tan will continue to demand the release of the many other democracy activists and bloggers arbitrarily detained in Vietnam."
Vietnamese Australian
A Vietnamese Australian is an Australian either born in Vietnam or is an Australian descendant of the former. Communities of Overseas Vietnamese are referred to as Việt Kiều or người Việt hải ngoại.-History in Australia:...
social worker from the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and member of pro-democracy organization Viet Tan
Viet Tan
Việt Tân is a network of members inside Vietnam and around the world, that aims to establish democracy and reform Vietnam through peaceful and political means.The organization has its origins in the National United Front for the Freedom of Vietnam , founded on September 10,...
who was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
on October 10 2010 for participating in a peaceful political demonstration in Hanoi, Vietnam affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly islands
Spratly Islands dispute
The Spratly Islands dispute is a territorial dispute over the ownership of the Spratly Islands, a group of islands located in the South China Sea. States staking claims to various islands are: the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China , Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei...
. She is being held under Article 84 of Vietnam's penal code, which is often used to charge and convict pro-democracy activists.
Background
Vo came to Australia in 1982 and is currently a social worker for the City of YarraCity of Yarra
The City of Yarra is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the inner eastern and northern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of 19.5 square kilometres, and at the 2006 census it had a population of 69,330...
. She is a single mother of two, and has been active in the Vietnamese community.
Arrest
Vo assisted in organising a peaceful demonstration on October 9 2010 in HanoiHanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
to affirm Vietnamese sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands
Spratly Islands dispute
The Spratly Islands dispute is a territorial dispute over the ownership of the Spratly Islands, a group of islands located in the South China Sea. States staking claims to various islands are: the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China , Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei...
. During the rally which was attended by approximately 70 people, she passed out leaflets, t-shirts, and hats in relation to the Paracel and Spratly Islands dispute.
She was then arrested in the evening of October 10 2010. The arrest occurred at the airport in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, as Mrs. Vo was boarding a plan to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. Her son was on a phone call with her, when the call ended abruptly. She was then put into detainment without access to a lawyer.
While Viet Tan has alerted the international community on her arrest already on October 11 2010, authorities in Vietnam did not confirm the arrest until October 12 2010. She was held under Article 84 of Vietnam's penal code, which is often used to charge and convict pro-democracy activists. During her arrest, her exact whereabouts are unknown, and other than a confirmation that she has been arrested, no further information has been provided by the government.
In a later interview, Vo described that she shared a cell with another prisoner, and was completely isolated from the world. Vo received a visit from the Australian consulate on October 18 2010
Release
After the Australian consulate in Vietnam intervened in the case, Hong Vo was released from prison on October 21 2010 and immediately expelled from the country without the possibility for her to ever return.She returned to Australia after a total of ten days of detainment. From her experience, she comments that "she will struggle to return to the country of her birth after spending 10 terrifying days in a Vietnamese jail."
International Response
State Labor MP Luke DonnellanLuke Donnellan
Luke Anthony Donnellan is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2002, representing Narre Warren North....
, who personally knows Ms Vo well from her community work, promised to file a protest with the Vietnamese Embassy. He comments, "I will tell them how annoyed I am that they have arrested an Australian citizen and incarcerated her. It's totally inappropriate. Especially since we're talking about people handing out leaflets in relation to democracy, not actually any criminal acts".
A Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
fan page has been created, as well as an online petition to ask for Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard
Julia Gillard
Julia Eileen Gillard is the 27th and current Prime Minister of Australia, in office since June 2010.Gillard was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales and migrated with her family to Adelaide, Australia in 1966, attending Mitcham Demonstration School and Unley High School. In 1982 Gillard moved...
's assistance in releasing Ms Vo has been created.
Upon her release Viet Tan spokesman Duy Hoang comments that "By releasing her now, the Hanoi government admits that it unjustly detained Hong Vo and that what it labels 'terrorism' is in fact peaceful demands for democracy. Viet Tan will continue to demand the release of the many other democracy activists and bloggers arbitrarily detained in Vietnam."