After spending four years of a 12-year sentence in a Vietnamese prison for terrorism-related charges, pro-democracy activist Chau Van Kham has expressed his gratitude to those who championed his cause. The 73-year-old Australian citizen returned to his family in Sydney following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's appeal for his release during a diplomatic visit to Hanoi last month.
Kham specifically acknowledged the support he received from various groups, including current and former Australian government officials, human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, community groups, media outlets, and legal professionals. Visibly moved, he addressed reporters in Sydney, expressing his nervousness stemming from overwhelming joy and relief at being reunited with his family.
Kham also extended his thanks to the Vietnamese government for cooperating with the Australian government to secure his release. He hinted at the quiet support he received from some prison officers during his incarceration. Arrested during a 2019 visit to his birth country, Kham was convicted on charges linked to his involvement with the pro-democracy group Viet Tan, an organization considered a terrorist entity by the Vietnamese government.
Prime Minister Albanese highlighted Kham’s release as a successful example of constructive diplomatic engagement serving Australia's national interests. Albanese's visit to Vietnam in June commemorated 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations, marking an important step towards upgrading their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and establishing a ministerial-level dialogue on trade. Previous Australian administrations had also advocated for Kham's release, citing health concerns, before Albanese's Labor Party assumed office. Amnesty International Australia has consistently maintained that Kham was a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely for his peaceful political views.
