Cong Thanh Do facts for kids
Cong Thanh Do, born around 1959, is a Vietnamese American activist who works for human rights. He believes everyone should have basic freedoms and rights.
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Why Cong Thanh Do Left Vietnam
Cong Thanh Do left his home country of Vietnam in 1982. This was after a big change in Vietnam's government, which led him to move to the United States. He believes Vietnam should have a democratic system, where people can choose their leaders. He has been accused of trying to change the government. After moving to the U.S., he settled in San Jose, California, where he worked as an engineer.
His Arrest in Vietnam
In 2006, while visiting Vietnam, Cong Thanh Do was arrested and held in jail in Ho Chi Minh City. The government said he was spreading ideas against their rule and planning harmful acts. His wife was also questioned.
While in jail, he went on a hunger strike for 38 days, drinking only water. Many people in the U.S. protested his arrest. They asked the US Congress to stop a trade agreement with Vietnam until he was released. Because of this international pressure, the Vietnamese government released him on September 21, 2006. He was then sent back to the United States.
Cong Thanh Do continues to be an activist for democracy in Vietnam. He writes about political topics and shares his ideas online, calling for democratic elections in Vietnam.
Life After His Release
After returning to the U.S., Cong Thanh Do kept working for free elections in Vietnam. He often writes under the name "Nam Tran." He shares his political writings on the internet and in Vietnamese newspapers in the United States and other countries.
Cong Thanh Do is also a founding and senior member of the Democratic Party of Vietnam.
In 2016, he ran for a political position in California, trying to become a member of the California State Assembly for District 27, but he was not elected.
What People Said About His Arrest
Many people spoke out against Cong Thanh Do's arrest.
- US Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren said, "The Vietnamese government has now taken the unprecedented step of imprisoning a United States citizen who states that he is being held solely because of his pro-democratic, non-violent views."
- Van Tran, a Vietnamese-American state assemblyman, urged Congress not to give Vietnam special trading status until Cong Thanh Do was freed. This trading status was important for Vietnam to join the World Trade Organization.
