Vietnam’s foreign ministry refutes ethnic discrimination as cause of Dak Lak terrorist attacks
Friday, July 07, 2023, 13:50 GMT+7
The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected claims that the deadly attacks on two local administration offices in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak were driven by ethnic discrimination.
Spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang was speaking at a regular press conference on Thursday when she was asked by Hong Kong’s Phoenix Radio about the ministry’s reaction to claims on social media that recent attacks on administrative offices in Dak Lak had originated from ethnic discrimination.
“We absolutely reject such erroneous claims," the spokesperson stressed.
“These terrorist attacks are organized crimes that will be strictly handled in accordance with the law."
The ministry has identified the deadly incidents as terrorist attacks committed by two groups of armed individuals on the offices of the People’s Committees of two communes in Cư Kuin District, Dak Lak Province on June 11, said Hang.
The terrorist raids killed nine people including four police officers, two commune officials, and three civilians. Two others were injured, according to the ministry.
Hang also said that Major General Pham Ngoc Viet, director of the Department of Homeland Security under the Ministry of Public Security, told an anti-terrorism conference recently held by the United Nations that the lethal attacks in Dak Lak were an organized terrorist activity aimed at state entities, officials, and civilians.
Viet emphasized that any organizations or individuals involved in or behind these attacks would be dealt with in a manner corresponding to the level of their violation.
One of the arrested subjects is a member of a U.S.-based organization who had received instructions to infiltrate Vietnam and perform the attacks, Viet said.
He also asked relevant countries and international organizations to support and cooperate with Vietnam in investigating the case, as well as prevent similar actions.
Police have so far detained and prosecuted 90 suspects in the case and put six others on a special wanted list, according to police sources.
US speaks against Dak Lak terror attacks
At a meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam last week, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper emphasized that the U.S. government would not tolerate the involvement of any U.S.-based organizations or individuals in the recent deadly attacks against the people’s government in Dak Lak.
The ambassador requested relevant information from Vietnam and pledged cooperation with and support for Vietnam in clarifying the issue and preventing similar incidents that may affect the relationship between the two countries.
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