National

Aussie democracy activist Kham freed from Vietnam jail

By AAP Newswire

Jul 11, 2023

Chau Van Kham being escorted from a Vietnam court room — The family of Chau Van Kham, left, have thanked the Australian government for securing his release. -AP

Australian citizen and pro-democracy activist Chau Van Kham has been released from a Vietnamese jail.

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Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles thanked the Vietnamese government for its action.

"They've done this on the basis of humanitarian grounds and in the spirit of friendship, which exists between Australia and Vietnam," Mr Marles told reporters on Tuesday.

"This is a result of careful advocacy which has been undertaken by the Australian government with the Vietnamese government over a number of months now."

The retired Sydney baker was arrested in 2019 on terrorism charges and sentenced to 12 years in prison over his membership of the overseas, pro-democracy political party Viet Tan.

Mr Kham's wife and two children thanked the government for securing his release.

They also thanked their legal team and many organisations involved.

"We share this happy news that Chau Van Kham is well and has returned to his family today," his family said in a statement.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press