Vietnam Security Forces Block German Diplomat, Not Allowing Him to Visit Prominent Dissident

Political dissident Nguyen Quang A (C) holds a sign which reads "Formasa - damaged the environment and is a criminal" during a protest in Hanoi, Vietnam, May 1, 2016.

Political dissident Nguyen Quang A (C) holds a sign which reads “Formasa –  environmental criminal” during a protest in Hanoi May 1, 2016.

By Vu Quoc Ngu, August 24, 2016

Vietnam’s security forces on August 24 blocked a German diplomat, not permitting him to visit prominent social activist Dr. Nguyen Quang A in his private residence in Que Vo district, Bac Ninh province.

Dr. A said on his Facebook page that Mr. Lax Konrad, a political officer from the German embassy in Vietnam, was stopped by a group of about ten plainclothes agents on his way to the Vietnamese dissident’s house.

The diplomat then parked his car near Dien Quang pagoda and tried to go by foot to Dr. A’s house, but he was also blocked by the men.

Informed about the incident, A went out of his house to receive the diplomat but four plainclothes agents did not allow him to go out. Finally, Mr. Konrad was forced to leave the area without meeting with Dr. A as they planned.

This is the second government blockage Dr. A faced this month. In early August, the Hungary-trained economist was detained prior to his planned meetings with a number of diplomats from the EU and its countries members.

On May 24, he was also kidnapped by the security forces shortly before the scheduled meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and local activists which he was invited to attend.

Dr. A is a leading activist in Vietnam. He has written a number of articles criticizing policies of the ruling communist party and its government on socio-economic development.

In addition to imposing foreign travel ban on local political dissidents, social activists and human rights defenders, Vietnam’s security forces often detain them or keep them under de facto house arrest in order to prevent them from meeting with foreign diplomats and officials or attending peaceful gatherings.

Many activists were blocked from attending the meeting between President Obama and representatives of local civil society during his first and final visit to the communist nation in May.