Melbourne human rights activist disappears in Cambodia

Pro-democracy group Viet Tan alleges a Melbourne man and his Norwegian Vietnamese colleague, who went missing in Cambodia more than a week ago, were abducted by Vietnamese authorities and forcibly taken to Vietnam, in what it calls “an act of transnational repression”.

Tran Hiep, a 50-year-old Australian Vietnamese democracy campaigner, was due to return to Bangkok, Thailand, to reunite with his wife Chloe Dang after a short trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to meet with Vietnamese human rights activists. Vietnamese state media reported the men had been detained, according to Viet Tan, the group both men belong to and which the Vietnamese government considers a terrorist organisation.

Viet Tan said authorities alleged the pair “illegally entered Vietnam from the Cambodian border”. But the group rejects that account, saying the men had no intention of entering Vietnam and were abducted in Cambodia, then forcibly taken across the border. “Their disappearance is not an ordinary ‘missing person’ incident. Both men are long-time human rights advocates and Viet Tan members,” the organisation said.

Viet Tan has also urged both governments and international human rights organisations to pressure the Vietnamese government for the men’s immediate and unconditional release.