March 6, 2007
 
Vietnamese Activists Announce Rallies Against 'Escalation of Political Oppression'
 
By HNN Staff
 
Vietnamese pro-democracy activists have announced a series of overseas rallies against what they call an "escalation of political oppression" in the communist country.
 
The Viet Tan (Vietnam Reform Party) says it will hold peaceful public rallies until March 11, 2007 in Paris, Oslo, Canberra, Hamburg, Adelaide, San Francisco, Sacramento, Orange County, Toronto, Tokyo and Washington.
 
Viet Tan says Vietnam had launched a crackdown on dissidents following a series of diplomatic successes including normalising US trade ties and joining the World Trade Organization.
 
The party, which is banned in Vietnam, highlighted moves against Catholic dissident priest Nguyen Van Ly, his fellow activists based in the central city of Hue, and several imprisoned pro-democracy activists.
 
Vietnam said this week that police in Hue had launched legal proceedings against the 59 year old Father for acting against the state.
 
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1862021.htm