Tran Minh Nhat (blue shirt in center) and his guests on Mar 15
By Vu Quoc Ngu, March 15, 2016
Authorities in Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Lam Dong have deployed a large number of police officers, plainclothes agents and thugs to threaten a group of activists who are visiting a local former prisoner of conscience, the victims have said.
On March 15, the group, consisting of 21 activists from the southern region, went to visit Tran Minh Nhat in Da Don commune, Lam Ha district to support him as he has been constantly harassed by local authorities. When the visitors’ bus arrived near Nhat’s private residence, a group of people, possibly agitated by local authorities, came to demand the activists not to visit his family.
When the activists were inside Nhat’s house, a group of thugs and ethnic people gathered outside, throwing stones at and insulting the visitors, activist Do Duc Hop said in his video clip posted on Facebook. Police officers in plainclothes and using modern cameras constantly filmed all activities of the guests.
When the activists tried to leave the area to return to Saigon, they saw that the road was blocked by big stones and many thugs are around, ready to attack the bus with stones in the presence of numerous security officers. For their own safety, the guests decided to return to Nhat’s house. Authorities also cut off electricity of Nhat’s house, activists said.
The activists called Lam Dong province’s senior leaders, including Chairman of the executive body Doan Van Viet and communist party’s Secretary Nguyen Xuan Tien, however, their calls were unanswered, said blogger Nguyen Huu Tinh, one of the guests.
The activists said they didn’t know how they can return to Saigon safely. They said they may be beaten and accused of causing public disorders as other activists had been charged in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap in 2014 when they visited former political prisoner Nguyen Bac Truyen.
On the next day, the guests left the areas as authorities removed all barriers and withdrew the thugs.
This is not the first time Nhat’s guests have been harassed by local authorities. In August last year, police officers and thugs attacked a group of activists when they left his house, causing severe injuries for a number of activists, including human rights campaigner Tran Thi Nga.
Since being released on August 27 last year after four years in prison on charge of “attempt to overthrow the people’s government” under Article 79 of the country’s Penal Code, Nhat has been the subject of harassment, intimidation and persecution by local authorities.
Nhat, who is under a three-year house arrest, has been severe beaten by Lam Ha district police and thugs three times since his release. Thugs, supported by the local police, have also attacked his house with stones and thrown dirty substances as well as pesticide to kill chickens and pepper plantation of his family.
Police in Lam Ha have done nothing to investigate the attacks after Nhat reported these attacks.
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March 15, 2016
Vietnamese Activists Threatened while Visiting Former Political Prisoner in Central Highlands
by Nhan Quyen • [Human Rights], Do Duc Hop (Saigon), Nguyen Huu Tinh (Saigon), Tran Minh Nhat
Tran Minh Nhat (blue shirt in center) and his guests on Mar 15
By Vu Quoc Ngu, March 15, 2016
Authorities in Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Lam Dong have deployed a large number of police officers, plainclothes agents and thugs to threaten a group of activists who are visiting a local former prisoner of conscience, the victims have said.
On March 15, the group, consisting of 21 activists from the southern region, went to visit Tran Minh Nhat in Da Don commune, Lam Ha district to support him as he has been constantly harassed by local authorities. When the visitors’ bus arrived near Nhat’s private residence, a group of people, possibly agitated by local authorities, came to demand the activists not to visit his family.
When the activists were inside Nhat’s house, a group of thugs and ethnic people gathered outside, throwing stones at and insulting the visitors, activist Do Duc Hop said in his video clip posted on Facebook. Police officers in plainclothes and using modern cameras constantly filmed all activities of the guests.
When the activists tried to leave the area to return to Saigon, they saw that the road was blocked by big stones and many thugs are around, ready to attack the bus with stones in the presence of numerous security officers. For their own safety, the guests decided to return to Nhat’s house. Authorities also cut off electricity of Nhat’s house, activists said.
The activists called Lam Dong province’s senior leaders, including Chairman of the executive body Doan Van Viet and communist party’s Secretary Nguyen Xuan Tien, however, their calls were unanswered, said blogger Nguyen Huu Tinh, one of the guests.
The activists said they didn’t know how they can return to Saigon safely. They said they may be beaten and accused of causing public disorders as other activists had been charged in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap in 2014 when they visited former political prisoner Nguyen Bac Truyen.
On the next day, the guests left the areas as authorities removed all barriers and withdrew the thugs.
This is not the first time Nhat’s guests have been harassed by local authorities. In August last year, police officers and thugs attacked a group of activists when they left his house, causing severe injuries for a number of activists, including human rights campaigner Tran Thi Nga.
Since being released on August 27 last year after four years in prison on charge of “attempt to overthrow the people’s government” under Article 79 of the country’s Penal Code, Nhat has been the subject of harassment, intimidation and persecution by local authorities.
Nhat, who is under a three-year house arrest, has been severe beaten by Lam Ha district police and thugs three times since his release. Thugs, supported by the local police, have also attacked his house with stones and thrown dirty substances as well as pesticide to kill chickens and pepper plantation of his family.
Police in Lam Ha have done nothing to investigate the attacks after Nhat reported these attacks.