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Amnesty fears for Vietnam Olympic torch protesters

01.05.2008

HANOI, May 1, 2008 (AFP) - Amnesty International called on Vietnam on Thursday to free activists arrested before the Olympic torch relay earlier this week, saying it had "serious concerns for their safety."
The London-based international human rights group called on the communist government in Hanoi to "urgently investigate allegations of beatings against those detained and ensure their safety and well-being."
Undercover and uniformed police on Tuesday morning swooped on the anti-Chinese protesters outside a market in the capital Hanoi, hours before the Beijing Olympic torch relay passed through southern Ho Chi Minh City.
"In yet another bitter twist in Vietnam's pattern of repressing legitimate and peaceful dissent, the country's authorities used the arrival of the Olympic flame to arrest at least 14 people," said Amnesty in a statement.
The Vietnamese protesters had announced peaceful rallies against Chinese policies, including its claims over the disputed South China Sea island chains the Spratlys and Paracels, which are also claimed by Vietnam.
The US-based Viet Tan pro-democracy group, which is banned in Vietnam, said police had taken several detainees back to their home provinces, confiscated their mobile phones and beaten them during interrogation.
Hanoi police on Wednesday confirmed eight detentions, without giving names, but declined to comment on activists' claims that scores more students, teachers, artists, farmers and fishermen had also been taken away by police.
Amnesty International voiced "deep concern" at what it called Vietnam's ongoing campaign "to silence dissenting voices."
"Lawyers, trade unionists, religious leaders and Internet dissidents with links to emerging pro-democracy groups have been targeted since this crackdown began in 2006," the group said

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