Joint Statement | Vietnam must release Norwegian and Australian human rights defenders abducted in Cambodia

The Judicial Reform Foundation is among 29 human rights organizations, including ACAT Germany (Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture), that have signed a joint statement condemning the Vietnamese authorities’ abduction of three human rights defenders in Cambodia and their forcible transfer to Vietnam, where they remain arbitrarily detained.

We call on the Vietnamese government to release all three immediately and unconditionally, ensure their safety, provide access to medical care and uphold their right to communicate with the outside world. We also urge the international community to act to secure accountability for transnational repression.

What Happened—and the Human Rights Concerns

Nguyen Duc Thuan, a Norwegian citizen; Tran Hiep, an Australian citizen; and Thai Cong Truong Son, an ethnic Vietnamese resident of Cambodia, were abducted by Vietnamese authorities in Cambodia on September 18, 2026, and subsequently taken to Vietnam.

It was not until September 28—ten days later—that Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security announced that the three had been arrested for “illegal entry” and were being investigated for “terrorism.” Their families and colleagues strongly reject this account, maintaining that the men were abducted in Cambodia and forcibly taken across the border.

By secretly detaining foreign nationals for ten days without promptly notifying the relevant countries and providing consular access, the Vietnamese authorities violated their obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The statement also condemns the “terrorism” allegations as politically motivated, reflecting the authorities’ longstanding misuse of counterterrorism legislation to suppress dissent.

There are also serious concerns for the men’s safety and health. Nguyen Duc Thuan has diabetes and requires daily insulin; any interruption to his medication could be life-threatening. Thai Cong Truong Son is particularly vulnerable because he lacks foreign consular protection.

Transnational Repression Must Not Go Unchallenged

Vietnamese authorities have previously been implicated in abductions and cross-border persecution of dissidents in Germany, Thailand and elsewhere. The seizure of Norwegian and Australian citizens in this case demonstrates that neither residence abroad nor a foreign passport guarantees the safety of human rights defenders.

Without a clear international response, transnational repression will continue, further endangering people in exile, human rights advocates and dissidents.

Our Joint Demands

To the Government of Vietnam:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release all three men and drop all charges against them.
2. Immediately grant Norwegian and Australian consular officials regular access to their nationals, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
3. Disclose where the three men are being held and allow them access to their families and lawyers of their choosing.
4. Ensure Nguyen Duc Thuan has uninterrupted access to insulin and all necessary medical care.

To the Governments of Norway and Australia:

1. Actively demand immediate and regular consular access, and keep the families informed of developments, including any refusals or delays.
2. Raise the case with the Vietnamese government at the highest political level and publicly call for the immediate release of their nationals.
3. Coordinate with like-minded governments to hold the Vietnamese government accountable for transnational repression.

Signatories

1. ACAT Belgium (Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture)
2. ACAT Burundi
3. ACAT Côte d’Ivoire
4. ACAT France
5. ACAT Germany
6. ACAT Sénégal
7. ACAT Switzerland
8. ACAT Tchad
9. Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN)
10. Article 19
11. Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates (AHRLA)
12. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
13. Freedom House
14. Human Rights Foundation (HRF)
15. Judicial Reform Foundation
16. Justice Abroad
17. Khmer Movement for Democracy (KMD)
18. Law and Democracy Support Foundation (LDSF)
19. Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
20. Lawyers Against Transnational Repression
21. Manushya Foundation
22. Myanmar Peace Museum
23. Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network
24. SOS Torture Burundi
25. Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
26. Tibet Initiative Deutschland e.V.
27. Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG)
28. Viet Tan
29. World Liberty Congress (WLC)

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This article summarises the joint statement issued on October 7, 2026. It does not reproduce the statement in full.

Read the original English joint statement and the full list of signatories