Catholic priest, after previous reports that he had been arrested by Vietnamese security forces at his church.

"We have received updated news which indicated Father Chan Tin [who is 86] has not been detained yet," said Viet Si, the spokesman of the Vietnamese dissidents group 'International Movement for Democracy and Human Rights in Vietnam' (IMDHR).

However dissidents have made clear that Priest Chan Tin, the editor-in-chief of Tu Do Ngon Luan or 'Freedom of Speech' Magazine, is closely watched by police who briefly arrested him at the Dong Chua Cuu The Church or 'Savior Jesus Christ Church' in Ho Chi Minh City, previously known as Saigon.

Police checkpoints are often used near homes of religious and other dissidents who are technically are detained, but in practice live under virtual house arrest, observers said.

CONCERN REMAINS

Dissidents also remained concerned Tuesday, February 20, about other pro-democracy activists, including a detained priest and leaders of the anti-government Vietnam Progression Party (VPP).

Father Nguyen Van Ly and the VPP leadership, President Nguyen Phong, Founder Nguyen Binh Thanh and Secretary General Hoang Thi Anh Dao have been arrested," IMDHR spokesman Viet Si told BosNewsLife Monday, February 19. "They have been currently in police custody."

Vietnamese authorities have denied human rights abuses, but Christian rights groups say many believers, including priests and at least 350 predominantly Christian Degar Montagnards remain detained in prisons across the Communist nation. (With reports from Vietnam).