Hanoi Police Arrest Prominent Activists, Severely Beating Bloggers

From right to left: Writer Nguyen Tuong Thuy, Duong Thi Tan, Nguyen Phuong Uyen

by Sao Khue
(Defend the Defenders)

Sept 26, 2013

Security forces in Vietnam’s capital city on Wednesday detained a number of bloggers, including prominent activists Nguyen Phuong Uyen and Nguyen Tuong Thuy, and severely beat some detainees before releasing them at midnight, foreign media and local bloggers reported.

In the evening of Sept 25, a group of uniform and plainclothes police officers stormed in Mr. Thuy’s house in Hanoi, where a number of bloggers came for a farewell party for the young activist Uyen, who will return to her native central province after a one-week journey in Hanoi.

Without a solid reason, the police violently arrested all participants, including Mr. Thuy’s wife and his innocent daughter, who was sleeping upstairs, and brought them to a police station nearby for questioning.

Among the arrested were Duong Thi Tan, a former wife of prominent blogger Nguyen Van Hai (aka Dieu Cay), who is in prison for posting articles against China’s violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea; Phuong Uyen’s mother; and Le Quoc Quyet, younger brother of distinguished human rights activist Le Quoc Quan, who will go to a trial on Oct 2 for a fabricated tax evasion charge.

Witnesses reported that Mr. Quyet, who is an activist fighting for his brother’s freedom, and his friend named Thi were severely beaten by the police during the interrogation. Uyen also informed by cell phone that she was beaten with blooding in her nose.

Ms. Uyen, who was freed in an appeal court on Aug 16, and her mother were forced to take a flight at midnight to go home. In May, she was given a 6-year sentence on charge of spreading anti-state propaganda and information harmful to the Vietnam-China relations.

All detainees were released by Hanoi’s police at midnight after being questioned by security officers.

Vowing to keep the country under one-party regime, Vietnam’s communist government has suppressed all voices advocating for free expression and human rights as well as criticizing the government’s policies. The government has been particularly harsh toward dissidents protesting for tougher actions against China’s aggression in the East Sea.

All activists and outspoken bloggers are subject of intimidation, violent and inhumane moves of Vietnamese security forces.

According to a report of Reporters Without Borders, Vietnam is the world’s second biggest prison for bloggers and cyber-dissidents. Over 48 activists were prosecuted in 2012, receiving a total of 166 years in prison terms.