Hanoi, Vietnam, Apr 5, 2011 / 23:23 pm
Vietnamese officials arrested and beat a group of Catholics for attempting to peacefully attend a trial of prominent lawyer and human rights activist Cu Huy Ha Vu on April 4.
“At least 29 Catholics were arrested at 8 a.m. on Monday morning when they were on their way to the courthouse to observe the proceedings,” read a statement issued by the Catholic Youth Association of Vinh.
Eyewitnesses told VietCatholic News that shortly before the arrests, the 29 were closely followed by local police who monitored their cell phone use and eventually used physical force to apprehend them. Bystanders who tried to help were repeatedly beaten and forced to let go of the victims.
The local Catholics were attempting to show support for 53 year-old Cu Huy Ha Vu – a well known Vietnamese legal scholar and human rights campaigner – who was due in court on Monday in Hanoi.