Huynh Thuc Vy harassed continuously

I know that this isn’t the last time they will harass me. But I am prepared for even stronger actions from them. The prudence of one of the coordinators for a civil society organization doesn’t equate in any shape or form with a retreat before the tyrannical regime.
An Ninh Tình Dak Lak

An Ninh Tình Dak Lak

Defend The Defenders |  Oct 2, 2014
Translation by [rollinglinks]Huynh Thuc Vy [/rollinglinks]
Tell the World

Since joining the United Nations Council on Human Rights last year, the communist government still has to cease oppressing all persons active in human rights.  It has released of some prisoners of conscience. But in reality these releases are mere international politicking that can’t justify many of the actions the GVN has taken since. These include unleashing its vast network of Public Security agents to follow and repeatedly harass activists and their families, repress people demonstrating against China, prevent dissidents from working on their regular day jobs, and smearing their reputation…

Recently my family has been harassed continuously.  My younger brother Huynh Trong Hieu, his wife and children, and my older cousin Huynh Phuong Ngoc have been followed continuously, harassed and arrested at will. Of course this doesn’t deter us from doing our work, but it does exact a heavy toll on our physical and emotional well-being. And I am not even talking about its ability to prevent us from or adversely impact our ability to make a living.

Each day that they arrest my younger brother Huynh Trong Hieu is another day he can’t deliver roasted coffee beans to our client. My husband and I, as well as my brother and his wife rely on the online sale of roasted coffee beans to make a living. Just as the police of Quang Nam and Saigon have threatened, they would “attack us in our finances” so that we would not have any time to participate in social work or speak up for democracy and human rights.  This constitutes acting without conscience, and not just simple harassment.

huỳnh thục vy

On September 7, 2014 Public Security Forces from Thong Nhat Ward, Buon Ho City, Daklak Province (the native province of my husband) brought to our house a letter. In it, they requested that I come to their station to discuss with them the fact that I am staying temporarily at my husband’s home. The reason they gave is to provide me “guidance on temporary residence procedures.” This is not the first time they are bothering us. At that time, I thought that I shouldn’t pay too much attention on such minor matters. For if I did it would make my friends and supporters worry. But today, I realize that if I ignored the small matters, they will cause bigger ones and bother me even more.

On September 10, 2014, one member of Thong Nhat Hamlet’s Public Security Forces and two members of Daklak Province’s Security came to my home. They asked me to “work” with them on issues related to civil societies especially Vietnamese Women for Human Rights. Their unreasonable and bothersome demands irritated my husband. So he refused to welcome them and instead asked them to leave.

I have stated very clearly on my Facebook page that I have nothing to share with the security forces. This is because I hold no hope for them to change their mindset from hatred to understanding of activities in the defense of human rights.  If they could listen to their conscience and tell right from wrong, there are tons of articles on the web that could help them change their mind and behavior. But they didn’t. They are acting to protect the interest of their family and in the process disregarding the dictates of their conscience and justice. I too have a lot of chores to do for my family besides other things. Also, my health is not that great and so I don’t have a lot of time to receive and discuss with members of public securities forces.

When I was taken into the District 2 Public Security Forces Station in the city of Cao Lanh, Province of Dong Thap, I said the following to one of them as I refused to answer their questions. “I think we understand each other all too well. I have nothing else to share with you. Everything the Women for Human Rights organization and I do are done transparently and publicly. You can read all about it on the internet. So please don’t push me and make me raise my voice. I don’t hate you as a person; you are, after all, just a henchman of the regime.” Reacting to what I said, he screamed at me in anger: “We are not henchmen! We are among those standing at the regime’s first line of defense!”  Now we really know each other!

huỳnh thục vy 1

This morning (October 2, 2014), two female security agents from the city of Daklak came by my home. They wanted to talk to me about organizations I might have joined. I told them that, because of time constraints, the priorities I have set for the Women’s Organization, and others delicate reasons I am not at ease sharing with them, I am now just a member of the Vietnamese Women for Human Rights only. I am not a member of any other organization. They also asked a lot of prying and personal questions that I refused to answer.  Because they were also women, I gave them give minutes of my time and then I asked them to leave.

I know that this isn’t the last time they will harass me. But I am prepared for even stronger actions from them. The prudence of one of the coordinators for a civil society organization doesn’t equate in any shape or form with a retreat before the tyrannical regime.

Recent demonstrations by Hong Kong students against the dictatorship on the Chinese mainland have made me feel ashamed. These students are bright, energetic, knowledgeable, creative and courageous.  As I look back on my past efforts for democracy, human rights and freedom in the light of what they did, I now realize I didn’t do enough. I, and also the young people of Vietnam, we still have a lot to learn from these students in Hong Kong.

Huynh Thuc Vy

Buon Ho October 2, 2014