Long Tan: Vietnamese authorities cancel commemoration ceremony, DFAT says
Tomorrow's 50th anniversary Vietnam War commemoration event at the Long Tan cross site has been cancelled by Vietnamese authorities, the Department of Foreign Affairs says.
"The Vietnamese Government has advised the Australian Government that it will not permit the ceremony to commemorate Vietnam Veteran's Day at the Long Tan cross site at 3:30pm on August 18 to proceed," DFAT said in a statement.
"An official party, including the Australian and New Zealand ambassadors, will lay a wreath and we understand small groups will still have access to the site on the day.
"The Government is deeply disappointed at this decision, and the manner in which it was taken, so close to the commemoration service taking place."
The news came after Vietnamese police blocked access to the Long Tan memorial site, as local officials discussed whether to allow a planned event to go ahead tomorrow.
An ABC crew was stopped about 200 metres before the site's memorial cross.
No clear reason was given for blocking access to the site, which is on a private farm, but access to the cross was open on Tuesday.
Australia had been working closely with Vietnamese authorities for 18 months to prepare for the event, the DFAT statement said.
Memorial events have been held at Long Tan since 1989.
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