A journalist and blogger from Vietnam who fled to Thailand from political persecution in 2018 is believed to have been abducted from Bangkok last week by Vietnamese secret brokers, friends say. Vietnamese authorities have confirmed that Duong Van Thai is now of their custody, based on Radio Free Asia.
Duong Van Thai, also known as Thai Van Duong, became uncontactable on Thursday, April thirteen after leaving his rented residence in Bangkok to choose up a pal from the airport. He went lacking simply hours after a meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who recognised his status as a refugee, reports say.
Police in Ha Ting province in Vietnam reported on Sunday, April sixteen, that they found Duang Van Thai – born in 1982 – illegally entering Vietnam via a pure channel through Laos, which his friends consider is extremely unlikely.
The 41 12 months previous journalist fled to Thailand in 2018 in fear of being arrested in Vietnam for his many posts and movies posted on social media that criticised the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Since then, Duong has lived in Bangkok and applied for refugee standing with the United Nations refugee company within the metropolis. Hours earlier than going lacking, the blogger accomplished an interview with UNHCR, a good friend stated.
Neighbours said that Duong left his house, around 11am on Thursday, April 13, on his motorbike. That day, he livestreamed for about 20 minutes on YouTube, speaking about final week’s trial of blogger Nguyen Lan Thang and the US Secretary of State’s go to to Vietnam.
Calls and messages to Duong’s WhatsApp went unanswered later that day and he didn’t reply the door to his home on Friday, April 14. His associates say it is probably that Duong was captured by Vietnamese security forces and imprisoned in Vietnam.
Duong recently printed content on his YouTube channel critical of Vietnam’s industrial policy, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and the country’s finance minister.
Yesterday, Senior Southeast Asia Representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Shawn Crispin said…
“Vietnamese authorities must instantly launch journalist Duong Van Thai and disclose the precise details of his detention.
“Vietnam has a historical past of targetting journalists living in exile. Thai authorities ought to thoroughly and transparently examine the circumstances of his disappearance in Bangkok and ensure that members of the press aren’t focused for his or her work.”
Radio Free Asia stories that the case is just like that of blogger Truong Duy Nhat, who was kidnapped by Vietnam’s security forces while applying for refugee status in Bangkok in 2019. Two months later he confirmed up in Vietnam and was sentenced to 10 years in jail for “abusing his place of authority.”
Two of Truong Duy Nhat’s associates informed CPJ that they believe Duong was abducted by Vietnamese brokers working with Thai authorities.
Vietnamese-American human rights activist and friend of Duong, Grace Bui, visited Duong’s home on Monday, reviews BenarNews…
“Inside his room, every thing appears regular similar to Duong has just gotten up in the morning and gone out for a fast walk. We found the bag he usually carried when going out. His wallet was nonetheless within the bag, and his UN card and bank cards had been nonetheless within the pockets. We discovered his laptop also.”
The UN card is a refugee card issued by the UNHCR to people who have refugee status and are ready to be resettled in a 3rd nation.
In English and Thai, the cardboard reads…
“The bearer of this card is expounded to UNHCR, registered and documented underneath the UN General Assembly’s authorization, and can’t be compelled to return to their nation of origin. All assist to the bearer is extremely appreciated.”
From the inspection of his room, it doesn’t appear at all that Duong was ready to take an arduous and illegal journey via Laos to return to Vietnam the place he faces a heavy prison sentence for his outward political dissent. His associates say he expressed having no intention of ever returning to Vietnam.
A Vietnamese refugee in Thailand, Nguyen Xuan Kim, said that around two weeks before his disappearance, Duong expressed emotions of insecurity after posting videos about politics in Vietnam online.
Duong advised Kim that on April 6, a person driving a bike with a Chiang Rai quantity plate arrived at his home and took photographs and videos. He spoke Thai, but not fluently, Duong advised his friend.
Cinch expressed concern over Duong’s arrest in Vietnam, on circumstance that the UNHCR recognised his refugee status…