Vietnamese government to take action against dissidents

The Vietnamese government has said that it will take action against dissidents who support a multiparty system for the socialist nation, The Associated Foreign Press reported today. The government recently detained several democracy activists in an attempt to, “defend its political system against pro-democracy activists,” according to Deputy Public Security Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Huong. The Vietnamese constitution only allows for a one party system and creating a new party or inciting others to create a party is illegal.

A spokesman for Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem said that Viet Nam has a different view of human rights given their political system and their economic and social circumstances. The statement comes on the heels of protests from members of the United States Congress ahead of a meeting between Khiem and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Human Rights Watch recently categorized the current actions by the government as “one of the worst crackdowns on peaceful dissidents in 20 years.”

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