Vietnam Arrests 9 Alleged Political Activists

Published February 7, 2012 10:45AM (EST)

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has arrested nine members of an alleged "reactionary political organization" seeking to overthrow the government.

State media have reported that police in central Phu Yen Province raided the group's headquarters and confiscated detonators, electronics and the equivalent of about $21,000.

Six were arrested Sunday and three others the next day, the official Vietnam News Agency reported Tuesday.

Provincial Police Chief Pham Van Hoa says they are under investigation for "abusing democracy," VNA said.

Ringleader Phan Van Thu founded the nonviolent group in 1975 and has previously been sent to re-education camps, it said. The organization now allegedly has more than 300 members.

Vietnam does not tolerate challenges to its single-party rule.


By Salon Staff

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