Vietnam’s authoritarian regime continues its crackdown on the local political dissent nine months after the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam held its 13th National Congress and four months after the regime conducted the Nationwide Election to form the new leadership for the next five years. On September 14, authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre detained Facebooker Nguyen Duy Linh, accusing him of using his Facebook to disseminate anti-state propaganda. The 45-year-old Facebooker is charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” under Article 117 of the country’s Criminal Code with imprisonment of between seven and 12 years in prison, if is convicted.
According to the state-controlled media, Vinh will be held incommunicado in the next four months at least. The local police also conducted house search and confiscated a number of personal items, including a laptop and cell phones.
He is among 10 activists and Facebookers being arrested on the allegation of “conducting anti-state propaganda” so far this year. Others include pro-democracy activist Do Nam Trung and political commentator Bui Van Thuan.
The Higher People’s Court in Hanoi on September 17 suspended the appeal hearing of prominent human rights defenders Mrs. Can Thi Theu and her younger son Trinh Ba Tu which was scheduled on the same day at the headquarters of the People’s Court of Hoa Binh province. The reason for suspension is the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak which has infected hundreds thousands Vietnamese and killed tens thousands others across the nation. Former prisoner of conscience Theu and her two sons were arrested on June 24 last year and charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” due to their fight against land grabbing and support given to other victims of legal miscarriage, including farmers in Dong Tam commune. On May 5, Theu and her younger son Tu were convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison and three years of probation each by the People’s Court of Hoa Binh province. The conviction was condemned widely by local activists and the international community. Meanwhile, Mr. Trinh Ba Phuong, the older son, is still held in pre-trial detention by the Hanoi Police Department and his trial is not scheduled.
On September 13, Facebooker Huynh Anh Khoa was released after 15 months spending in prison. In June last year, Mr. Khoa was arrested and charged with “abusing democratic freedom” under Article 331 of the Criminal Code for his Facebook activities which aim to criticize the regime’s socio-economic policies. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison in the trial which failed to meet international standards for a fair trial.
According to Defend the Defenders’ statistics, Vietnam is holding at least 262 prisoners of conscience in inhumane detention as of September 19. Among them, 219 were convicted and 43 others are held in pre-trial detention.
So far this year, the regime has arrested 22 activists, independent journalists and Facebookers, ten of them were charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” and 11 others were alleged of “abusing democratic freedom.”
Height Insoles: Hi, I do believe this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon …
http://fishinglovers.net: Appreciate you sharing, great post.Thanks Again. Keep writi…
Achilles Pain causes: Every weekend i used to pay a quick visit this site, as i w…
September 19, 2021
Vietnam Human Rights Defenders’ Weekly Report for September 13-19, 2021: Facebooker Nguyen Duy Linh Arrested, Alleged with “Conducting Anti-state Propaganda”
by Defend the Defenders • [Human Rights]
Defend the Defenders | September 19, 2021
Vietnam’s authoritarian regime continues its crackdown on the local political dissent nine months after the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam held its 13th National Congress and four months after the regime conducted the Nationwide Election to form the new leadership for the next five years. On September 14, authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre detained Facebooker Nguyen Duy Linh, accusing him of using his Facebook to disseminate anti-state propaganda. The 45-year-old Facebooker is charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” under Article 117 of the country’s Criminal Code with imprisonment of between seven and 12 years in prison, if is convicted.
According to the state-controlled media, Vinh will be held incommunicado in the next four months at least. The local police also conducted house search and confiscated a number of personal items, including a laptop and cell phones.
He is among 10 activists and Facebookers being arrested on the allegation of “conducting anti-state propaganda” so far this year. Others include pro-democracy activist Do Nam Trung and political commentator Bui Van Thuan.
The Higher People’s Court in Hanoi on September 17 suspended the appeal hearing of prominent human rights defenders Mrs. Can Thi Theu and her younger son Trinh Ba Tu which was scheduled on the same day at the headquarters of the People’s Court of Hoa Binh province. The reason for suspension is the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak which has infected hundreds thousands Vietnamese and killed tens thousands others across the nation. Former prisoner of conscience Theu and her two sons were arrested on June 24 last year and charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” due to their fight against land grabbing and support given to other victims of legal miscarriage, including farmers in Dong Tam commune. On May 5, Theu and her younger son Tu were convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison and three years of probation each by the People’s Court of Hoa Binh province. The conviction was condemned widely by local activists and the international community. Meanwhile, Mr. Trinh Ba Phuong, the older son, is still held in pre-trial detention by the Hanoi Police Department and his trial is not scheduled.
On September 13, Facebooker Huynh Anh Khoa was released after 15 months spending in prison. In June last year, Mr. Khoa was arrested and charged with “abusing democratic freedom” under Article 331 of the Criminal Code for his Facebook activities which aim to criticize the regime’s socio-economic policies. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison in the trial which failed to meet international standards for a fair trial.
According to Defend the Defenders’ statistics, Vietnam is holding at least 262 prisoners of conscience in inhumane detention as of September 19. Among them, 219 were convicted and 43 others are held in pre-trial detention.
So far this year, the regime has arrested 22 activists, independent journalists and Facebookers, ten of them were charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” and 11 others were alleged of “abusing democratic freedom.”