US man faces terrorism charge in Vietnam

HANOI, Sep 20: A Vietnamese-born US citizen was being detained on suspicion of plotting to destroy the US Consulate General and to overthrow the Vietnam government, state-run media reported today.

The reports sourced to Vietnam's security agencies could not be verified and a government spokesman did not immediately comment on accusations against Cong Thanh Do, a 47-year-old computer engineer from San Jose, California.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Le Dung confirmed on September 7 that the man, also known as Do Thanh Cong, was detained in mid-August and was being held in Ho Chi Minh City.

The official Vietnam News Agency and newspapers said ''public security agencies discovered Thanh back in Vietnam, with alleged plans to implement a terrorist plot to destroy the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.'' But Do's family and human rights groups said he had been arrested after using the Internet to call for alternatives to one-party Communist rule.

They said he told a US consular offical who visited him that he was a member of the outlawed People's Democratic Party of Vietnam and was a peaceful supporter of multi-party democracy and freedom of speech.

A US embassy spokeswoman in Hanoi said it had not been told of any charges against Do. ''There is no change in his status.'' Two weeks ago, the embassy confirmed Do was in custody.

The communist government keeps close watch on peaceful dissidents and US-based militants still angered by the 1975 collapse of the US-backed South Vietnam government.

Today's reports cited police as saying the plot was to avenge the arrest of Vietnamese national Nguyen Huu Chanh of a US-based group called Government of Free Vietnam. Authorities suspect Chanh's group of plots on Vietnamese embassies in London, Cambodia and Thailand.

Chanh is detained in South Korea following a request by Vietnam to arrest and extradite him to Hanoi.

The reports cited police as saying Cong Thanh Do, who left Vietnam in 1982, had also made contact with two other men ''allegedly to establish a reactionary organisation aimed at overthrowing Vietnam's government''.

Security and anti-terrorism measures are major issues for leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting from November 17 to 19 in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. The group includes the United States, China and Russia.

REUTERS