CTV Danlambao - Translated by Như Ngọc - This morning, Oct. 05, 2013, dozens of bloggers in Saigon accompanied Chau Van Thi’s family members to question police about his arrest at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Initially, airport security found every way to dodge the questions. A security officer at the airport immigration unit deliberately lied by saying "we do not detain anyone named Chau Van Thi."
Realizing they could not continue to deal with the time-buying tactics of the police, the bloggers made a protest by holding the banner that says, "Airport security must release blogger Chau Van Thi immediately."
Because of the airport is quite crowded in the weekend with the presence of many international travelers, security agents realized they must change their attitudes. Then, Mr. To Van Nam, a security official of Immigration Department, told Thi’s family, "[We] detained a person but [I] do not know where that person was transferred to."
According to our reporter at Tan Son Nhat Airport, four people – Nguyen Hoang Vi, Nguyen Thao Chi, Bui Thi Nhung, and the sister of Chau Van Thi - are working with the police and airport security officials. Other bloggers and relatives are waiting outside.
The officials are Mr. Nghia, head of Ward 2 police station of Tan Binh District and Mr. Nguyen Van Luu, deputy of airport security team of A72 Immigration Department.
Being confronted by the bloggers, Mr. Nguyen Van Luu had to admit that Chau Van Thi is being held for 24 hours because of a number of documents relating to national security. After 24 hours, if the issues are not resolved they will keep him for another 24 hours. If they decide to detain him longer, they will inform his family.
Answering the request for a written confirmation of his statement, Mr. Luu said Thi voluntarily stays under police custody to address the issues; therefore, his office takes no responsibility to provide any written document to his relatives.
So far, Chau Van Thi is still in police custody and nobody is allowed to meet him. After the 24-hour “administrative detention” deadline, if police will not release him, the bloggers will continue to make their demand for his release.
Our reporters will continue to update the situation of this incident.
