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