U.S. protest over attack by police on American member of embassy staff outside home of dissident

By MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE
Updated: 11:38 EST, 6 January 2011

• Political officer commended for human rights work wrestled to the ground
• Spike in arrests of pro-democracy campaigners
  

Human rights campaigner: Christian Marchant, a political officer at the US embassy in Hanoi, who was allegedly attacked by Vietnamese police

The U.S. government has strongly protested to Vietnam over the treatment of an American diplomat.

Christian Marchant, a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, was allegedly attacked by police as he went to visit a prominent dissident.

U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia said he was assaulted outside the home of Catholic Priest, Thadeus Nguyen Van L, who is under house arrest in the city of Hue.

Marchant was wrestled to the ground by authorities and later put into a police car and driven away, it said.

Marchant's work on human rights was recently recognised with an award from the U.S. State Department.

Outgoing Ambassador Michael Michalak confirmed that an incident had occurred.

'The United States government, both here in Hanoi and in Washington, has lodged a strong, official protest with the government of Vietnam regarding the treatment of one of our diplomats,' Michalak told reporters today during his farewell press briefing.

He called the issue a matter of grave concern, saying foreign diplomats are protected under international law.

'All governments are responsible for complying fully with the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, including ensuring the safety and security of diplomatic personnel,' he said.

Dissident: Marchant had been going to visit Catholic priest Nguyen Van Ly, centre in purple in court in 2007. He is under house arrrest in Hue

Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga said the government is reviewing the incident, but added that foreign diplomats also have a responsibility to abide by the host country's laws.

Ly, 63, was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2007 on charges of trying to undermine Vietnam's Communist government. He is now under house arrest after being released last year on medical parole.

Protest: US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak lashes out at the treatment of his member of staff at his farewell press conference

During his trial, Ly shocked the court by shouting out in protest. Photos of a police officer covering Ly's mouth to try to silence him circulated worldwide.

Several members of the U.S. Congress have repeatedly called for the priest's release.

The incident comes a week ahead of Vietnam's National Party Congress, when the country's new leaders will be announced. Rights groups have criticized crackdowns on dissidents, which have increased during the run-up to the event.

'We think the Vietnamese police are out of control,' Phil Robertson of U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said by telephone from Bangkok.

Flying the flag: Hanoi is preparing for the ruling communist party's national congress at a time when human rights campaigners are claiming that Vietnam's police are out of control

He called on the Vietnamese government to properly investigate the incident and to take swift action.

The U.S. government has been a loud critic of Vietnam's human rights record, urging Hanoi to stop jailing pro-democracy dissidents and to allow followers of all religions to worship freely.

Michalak told reporters last month there was a spike in arrests and convictions in 2010 involving people peacefully expressing their views.

Vietnam's government does not tolerate any challenge to its one-party rule. It maintains that only lawbreakers are jailed.