VIETNAM STATE SECURITY FORCE THREATENS DR. NGUYEN DAN QUE

This morning, on the 20th of September 2002 in Saigon city, the Vietnamese State Security Force abruptly broke into Dr. Nguyen Dan Que’s home. At about 8 am, a caravan of vehicles arrived outside of his house and unloaded about 30 security men. They said they brought charges of “violations of national security and conspiracy against the government” against the doctor and that his home will be searched. His home was ransacked as they looked at every document they could find that he has written. They told him he must surrender and accompany them to an unspecified security office downtown for further interrogation.

Dr. Nguyen Dan Que refused to leave with the security men unless they could produce an official court order for his arrest. After four hours of intimidation, the State Security Force left the house in a shamble but was unwilling to drag the Doctor through the street in daylight under gunpoint. Ten security men remained to surround the house.

The abrupt attack on Dr. Nguyen Dan Que was meant to take him by surprise and remove him from the safety of his home. This storm trooper tactic is an exercise in intimidation. The security men brought no official court warrants for search nor summons, and they ransacked his home.

We solemnly condemn this illegal act of harassment. We want the State Security Forces to know that they cannot exercise terror tactics at will to suppress a voice for human rights. Dr. Nguyen Dan Que has been guilty of no acts against the country. He has always stood for and has the courage to speak for better treatment of the Vietnamese citizens. Moreover, because of his work, he is already weakened in fragile health with high blood pressure, kidney and peptic ulcer problems.