Vietnam: Writer released from custody

New York, July 23, 2002—The Committee to Protect Journalists has just learned that writer Nguyen Vu Binh has been released from Vietnamese police custody. Authorities, however, have summoned him for questioning each day since his detention on July 21.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Phan Thuy Thanh told reporters today that, "Mr. Nguyen Vu Binh has committed actions which endangered security and public order. He was therefore summoned by local police to explain and clarify his actions." [See July 22 alert]