Saturday, January 08, 2011

US diplomat ‘attacked’ during visit to Father Ly

The United States has lodged a “strong protest” with the Vietnamese government over a police attack on a U.S. diplomat outside a house in Hue where controversial priest Father Nguyen Van Ly is being held.

Police attacked Christian Marchant, a political officer with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, while barring the American diplomat from meeting with Ly, one of Vietnam’s highest-profile human rights advocates, Radio Free Asia reported according to Reuters.

“We are aware of and deeply concerned by the incident and have officially registered a strong protest with the Vietnamese government in Hanoi,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

“We plan to raise the issue with Ambassador (Le Cong) Phung in Washington as well,” Toner added.

“Diplomats are entitled under international law to special protection against attack,” Toner said. 

“The government of Vietnam has a responsibility to take appropriate steps to prevent any attack on the person, freedom, or dignity of diplomats.”

Ly told Radio Free Asia there were hundreds of witnesses to the incident on Wednesday in the city of Hue.

“They reported that he (Marchant) was wrestled down to the ground right in the middle of the road,” Ly said.

SIC: CTH/ASIA