Activist Pham Ngoc Lan
By Defend the Defenders, October 28, 2017
Vietnam’s security forces have been intimidating the family of Pham Thi Lan, a female member of the Brotherhood for Democracy (BFD), for months after interrogating her in September.
Ms. Lan, a school teacher in the northern province of Ninh Binh, said police officers have summoned her former husband to the police station to question him about her activities as a BFD member. Her younger brother was also summoned by the police but refused.
Police have also come to her mother’s private residence in Ninh Binh to search the house and take away some of her personal items. Police officers threaten to arrest other members of the family if they refuse to cooperate with them in collecting information about Ms. Lan, who was forced to live in shelter from mid-September.
Police officers have said her activities in BFD are harmful for the regime.
The family said security forces are seeking her and keeping her mother’s private residence under close surveillance.
Under police pressure, her ex-husband has not allowed her to contact her own son who is living with his father.
On September 6, security forces came to Ms. Lan’s school to order her to stop teaching and go to a local police station where police officers interrogated her about her online activities and membership in the Brotherhood for Democracy.
Police officers from the Ministry of Public Security and a local department questioned her for several days. In mid-September, in order to avoid being interrogated further, she left the province and lives in shelter.
Ms. Lan is among thousands of Vietnamese netizens using Facebook and other social networks to express their opinions on the country’s issues, including systemic corruptions, human rights violations, China’s violations of the country’s sovereignty in the East Sea (South China Sea) and environmental pollution. She has joined BFD, an online group fighting for human rights enhancement and multi-party democracy.
Due to her online activities, she has been unfairly treated by the educational authorities in her native Yen Mo district. Despite being a good teacher, she cannot get a promotion and salary increase or other privileges she deserves for her good job.
Despite the discrimination, she continues to work hard and gain respect from her students. She also obtained a master degree in chemistry from Vinh University in August.
Considering BFD as a potential political opponent, the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam and its government have launched crackdown on the organization, arresting its seven key members, including co-founders Nguyen Van Dai and Pham Van Troi, and charged them with subversion under Article 79 of the country’s 1999 Penal Code.
More arrests and detentions of the organization’s members and other activists are expected as Vietnam is preparing for the APEC Summit slated for Danang in November, with participation of many global leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump.
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October 29, 2017
Vietnam Security Forces Intimidate Family of Female Activist Pham Thi Lan
by Nhan Quyen • Pham Thi Lan
Activist Pham Ngoc Lan
By Defend the Defenders, October 28, 2017
Vietnam’s security forces have been intimidating the family of Pham Thi Lan, a female member of the Brotherhood for Democracy (BFD), for months after interrogating her in September.
Ms. Lan, a school teacher in the northern province of Ninh Binh, said police officers have summoned her former husband to the police station to question him about her activities as a BFD member. Her younger brother was also summoned by the police but refused.
Police have also come to her mother’s private residence in Ninh Binh to search the house and take away some of her personal items. Police officers threaten to arrest other members of the family if they refuse to cooperate with them in collecting information about Ms. Lan, who was forced to live in shelter from mid-September.
Police officers have said her activities in BFD are harmful for the regime.
The family said security forces are seeking her and keeping her mother’s private residence under close surveillance.
Under police pressure, her ex-husband has not allowed her to contact her own son who is living with his father.
On September 6, security forces came to Ms. Lan’s school to order her to stop teaching and go to a local police station where police officers interrogated her about her online activities and membership in the Brotherhood for Democracy.
Police officers from the Ministry of Public Security and a local department questioned her for several days. In mid-September, in order to avoid being interrogated further, she left the province and lives in shelter.
Ms. Lan is among thousands of Vietnamese netizens using Facebook and other social networks to express their opinions on the country’s issues, including systemic corruptions, human rights violations, China’s violations of the country’s sovereignty in the East Sea (South China Sea) and environmental pollution. She has joined BFD, an online group fighting for human rights enhancement and multi-party democracy.
Due to her online activities, she has been unfairly treated by the educational authorities in her native Yen Mo district. Despite being a good teacher, she cannot get a promotion and salary increase or other privileges she deserves for her good job.
Despite the discrimination, she continues to work hard and gain respect from her students. She also obtained a master degree in chemistry from Vinh University in August.
Considering BFD as a potential political opponent, the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam and its government have launched crackdown on the organization, arresting its seven key members, including co-founders Nguyen Van Dai and Pham Van Troi, and charged them with subversion under Article 79 of the country’s 1999 Penal Code.
More arrests and detentions of the organization’s members and other activists are expected as Vietnam is preparing for the APEC Summit slated for Danang in November, with participation of many global leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump.