Defend the Defenders | April 14, 2019
Vietnam’s communist regime continues its crackdown on local dissidents and social activists, arresting anti-corruption activist named Tran Dinh Sang and charged him with “Resisting a law enforcement officer in performance of his/her official duties” under Article 330 in the country’s 2015 Penal Code.
Police in the northern province of Yen Bai announced that Mr. Sang will be held in next three months for investigation for his activities in a trumped-up case on March 23. He will face imprisonment of between six months and seven years if is convicted.
Mr. Sang, 39, is one of Facebookers covering bribery of traffic police and activities against corruption related to the arbitrary placement of tollboothson national highwayson his account “Tran Dinh Sang and his friends.”
Police in Ho Chi Minh City have allowed two detained rights activists Mr. Tran Long Phi and Mr. Michael Minh Phuong Nguyen, who is a Vietnamese American, to meet with their families after nine months of detention. The two guys, together with Mr. Huynh Duc Thanh Binh, were arrested on July 7, 2018 and charged with subversion under Article 109 of the 2015 Penal Code. The investigation on their case is likely completed and they may be tried soon.
Prisoner of conscience Tran Hoang Phuc continues to seek to appeal his sentence to the Supreme People’s Court after losing his appeal in July 2018. Phuc, 25, was arrested on June 29, 2017 and charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” under Article 88 of the 1999 Penal Code for providing technical assistance for two other activists named Vu Quang Thuan and Nguyen Van Dien, who were also charged with the same allegation. He was convicted and sentenced to six years in jail.
As many as 12 activists who had been imprisoned for their participation in a peaceful demonstration in Bien Hoa city in mid June last year completed their ten-month sentences on April 10.
On April 13-14, many activists in Hanoi have been placed under de facto house arrest as the city’s authorities are sending police and militia to station near their private residences in a bid to prevent them from going to Dong Tam to mark the second anniversary of kidnapping 38 policemen and government officials in a land dispute case.
Imprisoned prominent blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh (aka Anh Ba Sam) is under threat in months before completing his 5-year sentence. In December 2018, Vinh was visited by a police officer who left an envelop with money and requested him to take side with incumbent Minister of Public Security when he is freed on May 5. Meanwhile, authorities in Prison camp No. 5 in Thanh Hoa threaten to take him to a remote area to release him if others come to pick him up with banners and noise.
Vietnam was the 4th world’s largest executioner in 2018 with 85 implemented death penalties compared to China (1,000), Iran (253) and Saudi Arabia (149), according to Amnesty International’s report.
===== April 8 =====
Two Activists Allowed to Meet with Their Families after Nine Months of Detention
Defend the Defenders: Two detained rights activists Mr. Tran Long Phi and Mr. Michael Minh Phuong Nguyen, who is a Vietnamese American, have been allowed to meet with their families after nine months of detention, Defend the Defenders has learned.
Mr. Tran Van Long, the father of Mr. Tran Long Phi, said his family was allowed to visit him for the first time at Temporary detention center located at No. 4 Phan Dang Luu street in Ho Chi Minh City since his arrest on July 7, 2018.
The family of Mr. Michael Minh Phuong Nguyen also came from the US to meet with him recently, Long added.
Mr. Huynh Duc Thanh Binh, Mr. Tran Long Phi and Mr. Michael Minh Phuong Nguyen were arrested on July 7 last year and charged with subversion under Article 109 of the country’s Penal Code 2015. Binh and Phi participated in the peaceful demonstration in HCM City on June 10, 2018 while Michael Minh Phuong Nguyen came to Vietnam in late June.
Jailed Mr Binh has not yet seen his family. He was allowed to see his mother, however she was currently overseas. His parents are divorced. Due to unclear reason, he was not allowed to see his father who was also arrested on July 8, 2018 in the same case but released after seven months in detention.
The fact that they were allowed family visits mean the investigation into their cases have finished and they may be brought to court in the coming time.
They face a life sentence or even a death sentence if convicted.
———————
Imprisoned Activist Tran Hoang Phuc Seeks to Appeal to Supreme People’s Court
Defend the Defenders:Prisoner of conscience Tran Hoang Phuc continues to seek to appeal his sentence to the Supreme People’s Court after losing his appeal in July 2018.
Phuc, 25, was arrested on June 29, 2017 and charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” under Article 88 of the 1999 Penal Code for providing technical assistance for two other activists named Vu Quang Thuan and Nguyen Van Dien, who were also charged with the same allegation.
The trio were convicted by the People’s Court of Hanoi on January 31, 2018 and Phuc was sentenced to six years in prison while Thuan and Dien were given eight years and six and half years, respectively. In July 2018, the Higher People’s Court in Hanoi upheld their sentences.
Phuc and his family are working with his lawyer to prepare legal documentation to submit to the Supreme People’s Court.
For more information about Mr. Phuc: https://www.vietnamhumanrightsdefenders.net/defenders-weekly/?post=tran-hoang-phuc
===== April 9 =====
Anti-corruption Activist Tran Dinh Sang Arrested, Charged with “Resisting On-duty State Officials”
Defend the Defenders: Authorities in Vietnam’s northern province of Yen Bai have arrested a local anti-corruption activist named Tran Dinh Sang and charged him with “Resisting a law enforcement officer in performance of his/her official duties” under Article 330 in the country’s 2015 Penal Code.
According to the state media, police came to Mr. Sang’s private residence in Yen Bai city in early morning of April 9 to detain him and searched his house. Police declared that Sang will be held in next three months for investigation for his activities on March 23.
The state media also said in the evening of March 23, when a patrol unit of the Yen Bai city’s Mobile police was carrying out regular traffic check and imposing administrative fine on traffic violators, Sang stopped his car and filmed the police’s activities. The two sides held quarrel as the policemen requested Sang to stop filming while Sang insisted that he has a right to observe and witness the police’s activities as a citizen.
The police patrol unit reported that Sang tried to attack one of police officers, however, no solid evidence was shown by the police side.
According to Sang’s post on his Facebook, he wanted to supervise the activities of the mobile police’s unit as a citizen. The policemen tried to take his camera and he resisted. Later, police took him to a police station where he was beaten brutally by police officers. He was left to go home in mid night with broken ribs and other severe injuries on his body.
According to Vietnam’s 2015 Penal Code, Sang is facing imprisonment of between six months and seven years if is convicted.
Mr. Sang, 39, is one of Facebookers covering bribery of traffic police and activities against corruption related to the arbitrary placement of tollboothson national highwayson his account “Tran Dinh Sang and his friends.”
A number of his fellows have been harassed and persecuted in recent months amid increasing public disatisfaction on systemic corruption, especially in traffic police forces, and the arbitrary placement of tensof tollboothson national highwaysacross the nation.
Last month, Ha Van Nam, one of the most active figures against the fee collection of wrongly-placed toll booths, was arrested and charged with “causing public disorders,” two weeks after being kidnapped and brutally beaten by undercove policemen.
Vietnam’s communist regime verbally encourages citizens to take part in anti-corruption campaign, however, numerous activists have been imprisoned or intimidated after denouncing state officials of taking bribery or stealing state properties.
Sang has been the 8th Vietnamese Facebooker being arrested and charged with criminal offenses so far this year, according to Defend the Defenders’ statistics.
===== April 10 =====
12 Dong Nai Citizens Jailed for Peaceful Demonstration in June 2018 Complete Their Sentences
Defend the Defenders: As many as 12 activists who had been imprisoned for their participation in a peaceful demonstration in Bien Hoa city in mid June last year completed their ten-month sentences on April 10.
Theyare among 20 citizens in Dong Nai province being arrested by the local authorities on June 10, 2018 while participating in the peaceful protest against two bills on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security. They were charged with “causing public disorders” under Article 318 of the Penal Code. On their trial on July 30, 2018, 15 of them were sentenced to between eight and 18 months while five young mothers were given a one-year probation.
So far, 13 of them have been released while Ms. Pham Ngoc Hanh and Mr. Tran Nguyen Duy Quang are still in detention to serve their sentences of 16 months and 18 months, respectively.
In June last year, tens of thousands of people rallied on streets in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Bien Hoa, Nha Trang, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan and others to protest the Vietnamese highest legislative body National Assembly’s plan to pass the two bills. The Special Economic Zones bill is likely to favor Chinese investors while the second draft law aims to silence online criticism.
To deal with the mass protest, Vietnam’s security forces implied strong measures to disperse the mass. Hundreds of participants were arrested, beaten and sentenced up to six years in prison.
===== April 11 =====
Vietnam Becames 4th World’s Top Executioner: Amnesty International
Defend the Defenders: Vietnam was the 4th world’s top executioner in 2018, with 85 death penalties were implemented, said Amnesty International in its new research.
China, Iran and Saudi Arabia were the world’s leaders, with respective numbers of the capical punishment of 1,000, 253 and 149, the research said.
Amnesty International said the figures of Vietnam’s implemented death penalties are normally not aobtainable and the report about the number of the implemented death penalties of the Ministry of Public Security is an interesting surprise.
In its report released few days ago, Amnesty International said there are number of Vietnamese people in death row have complained that they were unfairly sentenced to death. Ho Duy Hai and Nguyen Van Chuong said they were sentenced based on their confessions which were made after being tortured by investigation officers.
In recent years, a number of death-sentenced people, including Han Duc Long, Nguyen Thanh Chan and Huynh Van Nen were released while waiting their death row after more than ten years in prison. They have claimed that they were forced to make wrong confession in order to be being tortured to death by police officers during interrogations.
For original report of Amnesty International: Death penalty in 2018: Facts and figures
===== April 12 =====
Blogger Anh Ba Sam under Danger ahead of Release Day
Defend the Defenders: Imprisoned blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh (aka Anh Ba Sam) is in dangerous situation while waiting for his release scheduled on May 5, 2019, his wife Le Thi Minh Ha has said.
She said that on December 9, 2018, a man in police uniform visited him in prison and talked for one and a half hours. At the end of this talk, he left behind an envelope with money in it.
The man also told Vinh to support incumbent Minister of Public Security General To Lam after being freed. Lam, Vinh and Ha were classmates in People’s Security Academy in Hanoi.
Mrs. Ha said both she and her husband didn’t know whether this man is a supporter or an opponent of General Lam, and considered his action as a threat.
As a result she felt the need to bring this out in the open, to protect her husband.
Meanwhile, authorities of Prison camp No. 5 where Vinh is serving his 5-year imprisonment, threatened to take him to a remote area to free him on May 5 if those who come to fetch him make noise and bring banners.
Ha had written to General To Lam and the country’s top leaders about this threat, however she received no reply and her letter was sent back to Prison camp No. 5.
Both Ha and Vinh are former security officers. His blog Anh Ba Sam was highly popular for its responsible journalism with the number of views averaged over 100,000 daily.
He was arrested on May 5, 2019 and charged with “abusing democratic freedom” under Article 258 of the 1999 Penal Code. Later, he was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.
He is listed as prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International and NOW! Campaign.
===== 13/4 =====
Activist Hoang Dung Said He Was Requested to Cooperate with Security Forces Before Going to Live in Exile
Defend the Defenders:Social activist Hoang Dung said that Vietnam’s security forces had been forcing him to make a commitment to cooperate with them as a requirement for leaving the home country to live in exile in the US.
Dung, who was a member of the unregistered Vietnam Pathway which advocates for human rights and democracy, disclosed this information after landing to the US on March 13, together with his wife and son.
His family was approved to relocate in the US for humanity reason, and the relocation would be earlier but it was postponed until mid April this year as Vietnam’s security forces insisted him to sign in a document calledBL05/2015of the Ministry of Public Security. However, Dung refused to sign in as he dont want to become a Vietnamese spy in the US where his family will start its new life.
According to some activists, BL05/2015was modeled by former Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang who died last year as Vietnam’s president. By signing this document, activists who are allowed to live in exile in foreign countries make commitment not to work against the communist Vietnam and ready to cooperate with the Vietnamese security forces to protect Vietnam’s national security.
It is unclear who have signed the documents, activists said.
Dung was among leading activists in Ho Chi Minh City and a well-known political and social blogger. Two years ago, he declared to resign from the Vietnam Pathway in a bid to have more time for his family.
In 2016, he ran for a seat in Vietnam’s highest legislative body National Assembly. However, he was eliminated early by the Vietnam Fatherland Front, an organization working under the direct supervision of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam.
Due to his social activities, he was beaten many times by security forces. His private residence in Ho Chi Minh City had been under close surveillance for years.
===== April 15 =====
Many Hanoi-based Activists Under House Arrest While Dong Tam Marks 2nd Anniversary of Hostaging Police and State Officials
Defend the Defenders: Many activists in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi have been placed de facto under house arrest on April 13-14 prior to the 2nd anniversary of the Dong Tam’s hostage.
Authorities in Hanoi have been sending plainclothes agents and militia to private residences of dozens of local activists to prevent them from going to Dong Tam where local residents held a meeting to mark the day when they kidnapped 38 police officers and district government officials after the district police arbitrarily arrested four residents, including its leader Kinh who was beaten brutally during his arrest.
Land petitioner Trinh Ba Phuong said he detected a group of four-five police officers stationing near his house in Duong Noi commune in early hours of the morning of Sunday even there was a big rain at that time.
Blogger Ha Thanh said he was not invited by Dong Tam people, however, he is still under house arrest. It was a big waste of people’s taxes, he added.
Dong Tam residents are planning to hold a meeting on April 15. They have invited many social activists and political dissidents to the event.
==============
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April 15, 2019
Vietnam Human Rights Defenders’ Weekly for April 8-14, 2019: Anti-corruption Activist Tran Dinh Sang Arrested in Trumped-up Case
by Nhan Quyen • [Human Rights], DEFENDER’S WEEKLY
Defend the Defenders | April 14, 2019
Vietnam’s communist regime continues its crackdown on local dissidents and social activists, arresting anti-corruption activist named Tran Dinh Sang and charged him with “Resisting a law enforcement officer in performance of his/her official duties” under Article 330 in the country’s 2015 Penal Code.
Police in the northern province of Yen Bai announced that Mr. Sang will be held in next three months for investigation for his activities in a trumped-up case on March 23. He will face imprisonment of between six months and seven years if is convicted.
Mr. Sang, 39, is one of Facebookers covering bribery of traffic police and activities against corruption related to the arbitrary placement of tollboothson national highwayson his account “Tran Dinh Sang and his friends.”
Police in Ho Chi Minh City have allowed two detained rights activists Mr. Tran Long Phi and Mr. Michael Minh Phuong Nguyen, who is a Vietnamese American, to meet with their families after nine months of detention. The two guys, together with Mr. Huynh Duc Thanh Binh, were arrested on July 7, 2018 and charged with subversion under Article 109 of the 2015 Penal Code. The investigation on their case is likely completed and they may be tried soon.
Prisoner of conscience Tran Hoang Phuc continues to seek to appeal his sentence to the Supreme People’s Court after losing his appeal in July 2018. Phuc, 25, was arrested on June 29, 2017 and charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” under Article 88 of the 1999 Penal Code for providing technical assistance for two other activists named Vu Quang Thuan and Nguyen Van Dien, who were also charged with the same allegation. He was convicted and sentenced to six years in jail.
As many as 12 activists who had been imprisoned for their participation in a peaceful demonstration in Bien Hoa city in mid June last year completed their ten-month sentences on April 10.
On April 13-14, many activists in Hanoi have been placed under de facto house arrest as the city’s authorities are sending police and militia to station near their private residences in a bid to prevent them from going to Dong Tam to mark the second anniversary of kidnapping 38 policemen and government officials in a land dispute case.
Imprisoned prominent blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh (aka Anh Ba Sam) is under threat in months before completing his 5-year sentence. In December 2018, Vinh was visited by a police officer who left an envelop with money and requested him to take side with incumbent Minister of Public Security when he is freed on May 5. Meanwhile, authorities in Prison camp No. 5 in Thanh Hoa threaten to take him to a remote area to release him if others come to pick him up with banners and noise.
Vietnam was the 4th world’s largest executioner in 2018 with 85 implemented death penalties compared to China (1,000), Iran (253) and Saudi Arabia (149), according to Amnesty International’s report.
===== April 8 =====
Two Activists Allowed to Meet with Their Families after Nine Months of Detention
Defend the Defenders: Two detained rights activists Mr. Tran Long Phi and Mr. Michael Minh Phuong Nguyen, who is a Vietnamese American, have been allowed to meet with their families after nine months of detention, Defend the Defenders has learned.
Mr. Tran Van Long, the father of Mr. Tran Long Phi, said his family was allowed to visit him for the first time at Temporary detention center located at No. 4 Phan Dang Luu street in Ho Chi Minh City since his arrest on July 7, 2018.
The family of Mr. Michael Minh Phuong Nguyen also came from the US to meet with him recently, Long added.
Mr. Huynh Duc Thanh Binh, Mr. Tran Long Phi and Mr. Michael Minh Phuong Nguyen were arrested on July 7 last year and charged with subversion under Article 109 of the country’s Penal Code 2015. Binh and Phi participated in the peaceful demonstration in HCM City on June 10, 2018 while Michael Minh Phuong Nguyen came to Vietnam in late June.
Jailed Mr Binh has not yet seen his family. He was allowed to see his mother, however she was currently overseas. His parents are divorced. Due to unclear reason, he was not allowed to see his father who was also arrested on July 8, 2018 in the same case but released after seven months in detention.
The fact that they were allowed family visits mean the investigation into their cases have finished and they may be brought to court in the coming time.
They face a life sentence or even a death sentence if convicted.
———————
Imprisoned Activist Tran Hoang Phuc Seeks to Appeal to Supreme People’s Court
Defend the Defenders:Prisoner of conscience Tran Hoang Phuc continues to seek to appeal his sentence to the Supreme People’s Court after losing his appeal in July 2018.
Phuc, 25, was arrested on June 29, 2017 and charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” under Article 88 of the 1999 Penal Code for providing technical assistance for two other activists named Vu Quang Thuan and Nguyen Van Dien, who were also charged with the same allegation.
The trio were convicted by the People’s Court of Hanoi on January 31, 2018 and Phuc was sentenced to six years in prison while Thuan and Dien were given eight years and six and half years, respectively. In July 2018, the Higher People’s Court in Hanoi upheld their sentences.
Phuc and his family are working with his lawyer to prepare legal documentation to submit to the Supreme People’s Court.
For more information about Mr. Phuc: https://www.vietnamhumanrightsdefenders.net/defenders-weekly/?post=tran-hoang-phuc
===== April 9 =====
Anti-corruption Activist Tran Dinh Sang Arrested, Charged with “Resisting On-duty State Officials”
Defend the Defenders: Authorities in Vietnam’s northern province of Yen Bai have arrested a local anti-corruption activist named Tran Dinh Sang and charged him with “Resisting a law enforcement officer in performance of his/her official duties” under Article 330 in the country’s 2015 Penal Code.
According to the state media, police came to Mr. Sang’s private residence in Yen Bai city in early morning of April 9 to detain him and searched his house. Police declared that Sang will be held in next three months for investigation for his activities on March 23.
The state media also said in the evening of March 23, when a patrol unit of the Yen Bai city’s Mobile police was carrying out regular traffic check and imposing administrative fine on traffic violators, Sang stopped his car and filmed the police’s activities. The two sides held quarrel as the policemen requested Sang to stop filming while Sang insisted that he has a right to observe and witness the police’s activities as a citizen.
The police patrol unit reported that Sang tried to attack one of police officers, however, no solid evidence was shown by the police side.
According to Sang’s post on his Facebook, he wanted to supervise the activities of the mobile police’s unit as a citizen. The policemen tried to take his camera and he resisted. Later, police took him to a police station where he was beaten brutally by police officers. He was left to go home in mid night with broken ribs and other severe injuries on his body.
According to Vietnam’s 2015 Penal Code, Sang is facing imprisonment of between six months and seven years if is convicted.
Mr. Sang, 39, is one of Facebookers covering bribery of traffic police and activities against corruption related to the arbitrary placement of tollboothson national highwayson his account “Tran Dinh Sang and his friends.”
A number of his fellows have been harassed and persecuted in recent months amid increasing public disatisfaction on systemic corruption, especially in traffic police forces, and the arbitrary placement of tensof tollboothson national highwaysacross the nation.
Last month, Ha Van Nam, one of the most active figures against the fee collection of wrongly-placed toll booths, was arrested and charged with “causing public disorders,” two weeks after being kidnapped and brutally beaten by undercove policemen.
Vietnam’s communist regime verbally encourages citizens to take part in anti-corruption campaign, however, numerous activists have been imprisoned or intimidated after denouncing state officials of taking bribery or stealing state properties.
Sang has been the 8th Vietnamese Facebooker being arrested and charged with criminal offenses so far this year, according to Defend the Defenders’ statistics.
===== April 10 =====
12 Dong Nai Citizens Jailed for Peaceful Demonstration in June 2018 Complete Their Sentences
Defend the Defenders: As many as 12 activists who had been imprisoned for their participation in a peaceful demonstration in Bien Hoa city in mid June last year completed their ten-month sentences on April 10.
Theyare among 20 citizens in Dong Nai province being arrested by the local authorities on June 10, 2018 while participating in the peaceful protest against two bills on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security. They were charged with “causing public disorders” under Article 318 of the Penal Code. On their trial on July 30, 2018, 15 of them were sentenced to between eight and 18 months while five young mothers were given a one-year probation.
So far, 13 of them have been released while Ms. Pham Ngoc Hanh and Mr. Tran Nguyen Duy Quang are still in detention to serve their sentences of 16 months and 18 months, respectively.
In June last year, tens of thousands of people rallied on streets in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Bien Hoa, Nha Trang, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan and others to protest the Vietnamese highest legislative body National Assembly’s plan to pass the two bills. The Special Economic Zones bill is likely to favor Chinese investors while the second draft law aims to silence online criticism.
To deal with the mass protest, Vietnam’s security forces implied strong measures to disperse the mass. Hundreds of participants were arrested, beaten and sentenced up to six years in prison.
===== April 11 =====
Vietnam Becames 4th World’s Top Executioner: Amnesty International
Defend the Defenders: Vietnam was the 4th world’s top executioner in 2018, with 85 death penalties were implemented, said Amnesty International in its new research.
China, Iran and Saudi Arabia were the world’s leaders, with respective numbers of the capical punishment of 1,000, 253 and 149, the research said.
Amnesty International said the figures of Vietnam’s implemented death penalties are normally not aobtainable and the report about the number of the implemented death penalties of the Ministry of Public Security is an interesting surprise.
In its report released few days ago, Amnesty International said there are number of Vietnamese people in death row have complained that they were unfairly sentenced to death. Ho Duy Hai and Nguyen Van Chuong said they were sentenced based on their confessions which were made after being tortured by investigation officers.
In recent years, a number of death-sentenced people, including Han Duc Long, Nguyen Thanh Chan and Huynh Van Nen were released while waiting their death row after more than ten years in prison. They have claimed that they were forced to make wrong confession in order to be being tortured to death by police officers during interrogations.
For original report of Amnesty International: Death penalty in 2018: Facts and figures
===== April 12 =====
Blogger Anh Ba Sam under Danger ahead of Release Day
Defend the Defenders: Imprisoned blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh (aka Anh Ba Sam) is in dangerous situation while waiting for his release scheduled on May 5, 2019, his wife Le Thi Minh Ha has said.
She said that on December 9, 2018, a man in police uniform visited him in prison and talked for one and a half hours. At the end of this talk, he left behind an envelope with money in it.
The man also told Vinh to support incumbent Minister of Public Security General To Lam after being freed. Lam, Vinh and Ha were classmates in People’s Security Academy in Hanoi.
Mrs. Ha said both she and her husband didn’t know whether this man is a supporter or an opponent of General Lam, and considered his action as a threat.
As a result she felt the need to bring this out in the open, to protect her husband.
Meanwhile, authorities of Prison camp No. 5 where Vinh is serving his 5-year imprisonment, threatened to take him to a remote area to free him on May 5 if those who come to fetch him make noise and bring banners.
Ha had written to General To Lam and the country’s top leaders about this threat, however she received no reply and her letter was sent back to Prison camp No. 5.
Both Ha and Vinh are former security officers. His blog Anh Ba Sam was highly popular for its responsible journalism with the number of views averaged over 100,000 daily.
He was arrested on May 5, 2019 and charged with “abusing democratic freedom” under Article 258 of the 1999 Penal Code. Later, he was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.
He is listed as prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International and NOW! Campaign.
===== 13/4 =====
Activist Hoang Dung Said He Was Requested to Cooperate with Security Forces Before Going to Live in Exile
Defend the Defenders:Social activist Hoang Dung said that Vietnam’s security forces had been forcing him to make a commitment to cooperate with them as a requirement for leaving the home country to live in exile in the US.
Dung, who was a member of the unregistered Vietnam Pathway which advocates for human rights and democracy, disclosed this information after landing to the US on March 13, together with his wife and son.
His family was approved to relocate in the US for humanity reason, and the relocation would be earlier but it was postponed until mid April this year as Vietnam’s security forces insisted him to sign in a document calledBL05/2015of the Ministry of Public Security. However, Dung refused to sign in as he dont want to become a Vietnamese spy in the US where his family will start its new life.
According to some activists, BL05/2015was modeled by former Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang who died last year as Vietnam’s president. By signing this document, activists who are allowed to live in exile in foreign countries make commitment not to work against the communist Vietnam and ready to cooperate with the Vietnamese security forces to protect Vietnam’s national security.
It is unclear who have signed the documents, activists said.
Dung was among leading activists in Ho Chi Minh City and a well-known political and social blogger. Two years ago, he declared to resign from the Vietnam Pathway in a bid to have more time for his family.
In 2016, he ran for a seat in Vietnam’s highest legislative body National Assembly. However, he was eliminated early by the Vietnam Fatherland Front, an organization working under the direct supervision of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam.
Due to his social activities, he was beaten many times by security forces. His private residence in Ho Chi Minh City had been under close surveillance for years.
===== April 15 =====
Many Hanoi-based Activists Under House Arrest While Dong Tam Marks 2nd Anniversary of Hostaging Police and State Officials
Defend the Defenders: Many activists in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi have been placed de facto under house arrest on April 13-14 prior to the 2nd anniversary of the Dong Tam’s hostage.
Authorities in Hanoi have been sending plainclothes agents and militia to private residences of dozens of local activists to prevent them from going to Dong Tam where local residents held a meeting to mark the day when they kidnapped 38 police officers and district government officials after the district police arbitrarily arrested four residents, including its leader Kinh who was beaten brutally during his arrest.
Land petitioner Trinh Ba Phuong said he detected a group of four-five police officers stationing near his house in Duong Noi commune in early hours of the morning of Sunday even there was a big rain at that time.
Blogger Ha Thanh said he was not invited by Dong Tam people, however, he is still under house arrest. It was a big waste of people’s taxes, he added.
Dong Tam residents are planning to hold a meeting on April 15. They have invited many social activists and political dissidents to the event.
==============