Vo Duc Van
Vo Duc Van (December 20, 1959 in My Tho) , also known as Nguyen Nha Trang, is a Vietnamese-American who emigrated to the United States in 1980. In 2001 he was arrested for his part in the attempted bombing of the Vietnamese embassy in Thailand. The "bomb incident" occurred on 19 June and was intended as a political statement as June 19 is the commemoration day celebration of South Vietnam National Army Day.
Biography
Vo Duc Van was born on December 20, 1959, in My Tho, South Vietnam.Vo fled Vietnam by boat in 1979 after the Communists took control of South Vietnam. He then sought political asylum at the UNHCR in the Philippines, and was granted settlement in the United States of America in 1980, where he later became a naturalized American Citizen. Vo Duc Van attended California State University where he studied Architectural and Civil Engineering. After completing his Bachelor degree he worked as a Californian Building Contractor for a decade, his last employment prior to his arrest was at Midway Columbia Engineering Boeing Field Seattle, Washington.
Vo Duc Van has been an active volunteer in public and social services. He was a member of the Southern California Vietnamese-American Students Association since 1982 and a member of the board of directors of the Vietnamese Community in Pamona, California, 1988-1991. Vo was also a Vietnamese language teacher for the youngsters in many Buddhist temples including Pamona, San Jose and Seattle.
Vo Duc Van was a member of the anti-communist Free Government of Vietnam (1995) and was also a member of both the Coalition Political Party of Free Vietnem and the Free Vietnam Youth Association.
On October 12, 2001, he was arrested by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at the John Wayne airport for the attempted bombing of the Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. He was detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Los Angeles until he was extradited to Thailand on 1 December 2006. September 2001, His alleged co-accomplices Pham Nguyen Thanh Hien Si, (Tony) Anh Tuan Tran, and (Philip) Phan Thanh Binh were arrested in Thailand and awaiting trial.
His arrest led to the Communist government of Vietnam, to demand that United States shut down the Government of Free Vietnam, which is led by Prime Minister Nguyen Huu Chanh.
The Vietnamese community held numerous rallies in support of Vo Duc Van against his deportation to Thailand for his alleged involvement in the attempted bombing of the Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok.
In 2001, Vo Duc Van was awaiting deportation at Federal Detention Facility in California and was transferred to law enforcement officials in Thailand in December 2006. He was expected to be to transferred to Vietnamese authority in 2008.[1][2]
External links
- Vo Duc Van Official Site
- Trial opens in Thailand of Vietnamese-American accused of trying to bomb Hanoi's embassy
- Accused would-be bomber of Vietnam embassy on trial in Thailand
- Accused Vietnamese terrorist has no remorse
- Embassy attempted bombing ringleader goes on trial in Thailand
