This article first published by Ohmynews on 2006-08-09 16:41 (KST)
Visiting activist Nguyen Huu Chanh to remain a free man
The Seoul High Court on July 27 rejected the Vietnamese government's request for extradition of Nguyen Huu Chanh, who has been wanted by Vietnam for terrorist activities. The ruling sparked strong criticism from Vietnam.
Korea Interpol police in Seoul since April 5 have detained Nguyen, 55, who sought asylum in the United States in 1981 and has established the Government of Free Vietnam (GFVN) in Los Angeles. The Vietnamese government wants him extradited so that he can be tried for terrorist acts.
Vietnamese authorities accuses Nguyen of organizing and being involved in 13 attempted terrorist acts in Vietnam as well as his actions abroad, including the throwing of explosives and petrol bombs into the Vietnamese Embassies in London in August 2000, Phnom Penh in April 2001, Bangkok in June 2001, and Manila in September 2001. He was tried in absentia by the Ho Chi Minh People's Court in 2001, and was once arrested and expelled by the government of Thailand.
Regarding his violent acts, the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security issued an arrest against Nguyen. He is also being hunted worldwide by the International Interpol Office for weapon smuggling and terrorism at the request of Vietnam government.
The Vietnamese government has urged the South Korean government to extradite him. In May, the Vietnamese president sent a personal letter to Roh Moo-hyun, the South Korean president, calling for his extradition.
However, the Seoul High Court turned down the request, citing him as a political dissident and a pro-democracy leader. The court also said that none of his alleged terrorist acts injured people or damaged facilities, and noted that Vietnam is not a signatory of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.
Under the bilateral extradition treaty, the local prosecution is banned from appealing Nguyen's case to the Supreme Court, which means he will be released and travel freely.
Predictably, the ruling sparked strong reaction from the Vietnamese government. An article in the Vietnamese national newspaper, Nhan Dan, called the ruling "unacceptable" and "wrongful, violating the international law on anti-terrorism and failing to implement the extradition treaty signed between the two countries. It also stated the decision runs counter to the trend of increasing cooperation between the two countries."
The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Le Dung, expressed regret at the Seoul High Court's decision and affirmed that Nguyen is a terrorist, who masterminded the so-called "Free Vietnam" organization of a group of criminals, which has conducted terror activities against Vietnam. He also said Vietnam will continue to demand that Interpol put Nguyen on its wanted list for terrorism.
"As an Interpol member, Vietnam has actively collaborated with other countries to counter terrorist and criminal activities. We request that concerned countries cooperate with Vietnam in stopping and punishing those who conduct terrorist actions and terrorist plans against Vietnam," Dung concluded.
Vietnamese ambassador in Korea Pham Van Tien also expressed strong regret at the Court's decision. "The court's decision of considering the terrorist as a political dissident is `wrong' because he attempted to bomb the Vietnamese Embassies in Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines as well as other government buildings in Vietnam,'' the ambassador told the Korea Times.
Regarding this issue, Roh sent a personal letter to Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet to seek his understanding of the Seoul court's ruling.
Vietnam and Korea signed the criminal extradition pact in 1990. Korea has since received active assistance from Vietnam regarding the proposal of extraditing 10 criminals. It is the first time that Vietnam has requested a criminal extradition from South Korea. The turndown may have significant influence over future bilateral cooperation over criminals and possibly affect the trade relations between the two countries.
Visiting activist Nguyen Huu Chanh to remain a free man
The Seoul High Court on July 27 rejected the Vietnamese government's request for extradition of Nguyen Huu Chanh, who has been wanted by Vietnam for terrorist activities. The ruling sparked strong criticism from Vietnam.
Korea Interpol police in Seoul since April 5 have detained Nguyen, 55, who sought asylum in the United States in 1981 and has established the Government of Free Vietnam (GFVN) in Los Angeles. The Vietnamese government wants him extradited so that he can be tried for terrorist acts.
Vietnamese authorities accuses Nguyen of organizing and being involved in 13 attempted terrorist acts in Vietnam as well as his actions abroad, including the throwing of explosives and petrol bombs into the Vietnamese Embassies in London in August 2000, Phnom Penh in April 2001, Bangkok in June 2001, and Manila in September 2001. He was tried in absentia by the Ho Chi Minh People's Court in 2001, and was once arrested and expelled by the government of Thailand.
Regarding his violent acts, the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security issued an arrest against Nguyen. He is also being hunted worldwide by the International Interpol Office for weapon smuggling and terrorism at the request of Vietnam government.
The Vietnamese government has urged the South Korean government to extradite him. In May, the Vietnamese president sent a personal letter to Roh Moo-hyun, the South Korean president, calling for his extradition.
However, the Seoul High Court turned down the request, citing him as a political dissident and a pro-democracy leader. The court also said that none of his alleged terrorist acts injured people or damaged facilities, and noted that Vietnam is not a signatory of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.
Under the bilateral extradition treaty, the local prosecution is banned from appealing Nguyen's case to the Supreme Court, which means he will be released and travel freely.
Predictably, the ruling sparked strong reaction from the Vietnamese government. An article in the Vietnamese national newspaper, Nhan Dan, called the ruling "unacceptable" and "wrongful, violating the international law on anti-terrorism and failing to implement the extradition treaty signed between the two countries. It also stated the decision runs counter to the trend of increasing cooperation between the two countries."
The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Le Dung, expressed regret at the Seoul High Court's decision and affirmed that Nguyen is a terrorist, who masterminded the so-called "Free Vietnam" organization of a group of criminals, which has conducted terror activities against Vietnam. He also said Vietnam will continue to demand that Interpol put Nguyen on its wanted list for terrorism.
"As an Interpol member, Vietnam has actively collaborated with other countries to counter terrorist and criminal activities. We request that concerned countries cooperate with Vietnam in stopping and punishing those who conduct terrorist actions and terrorist plans against Vietnam," Dung concluded.
Vietnamese ambassador in Korea Pham Van Tien also expressed strong regret at the Court's decision. "The court's decision of considering the terrorist as a political dissident is `wrong' because he attempted to bomb the Vietnamese Embassies in Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines as well as other government buildings in Vietnam,'' the ambassador told the Korea Times.
Regarding this issue, Roh sent a personal letter to Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet to seek his understanding of the Seoul court's ruling.
Vietnam and Korea signed the criminal extradition pact in 1990. Korea has since received active assistance from Vietnam regarding the proposal of extraditing 10 criminals. It is the first time that Vietnam has requested a criminal extradition from South Korea. The turndown may have significant influence over future bilateral cooperation over criminals and possibly affect the trade relations between the two countries.
Subscribe to my feed