HUMAN RIGHTS RELIEF FOUNDATION

MEDIA RELEASE - Vietnam escalates Oppression and Arrest of Democracy Activists

posted Aug 2, 2017, 11:03 PM by HRRF Admin

MEDIA RELEASE

02-Aug-2017

On 29 June 2017, a court in Vietnam after a one day trial sentenced blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh (Me Nam) to 10 years imprisonment for "propagandising against the State" under Article 88 of the Penal Code.

On 22 July, another blogger Tran Thi Nga was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and 5 years probation under the same charge, namely "spreading propaganda against the State".

On 30 July, the police arrested 4 members of a pro-democracy group called "Brotherhood for Democracy". They are Nguyen Trung Ton, Truong Minh Duc, Nguyen Bac Truyen and Pham Van Troi. Nguyen Trung Ton is a Protestant Pastor and Truong Minh Duc is a journalist who has previously worked for State media organisations such as The Country News. All 4 have previously been jailed for "spreading propaganda against the State" under Article 88. They now face a much more serious accusation of "carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the government" under Article 79 of the Penal Code and could face the death penalty if convicted.

Since the beginning of this year, nearly 20 social and democracy activists have been arrested, charged and/or sentenced with various offences against the State involving the use and distribution of information on the internet and Facebook. One, namely Pham Minh Hoang was deported to France. Hoang held dual citizenship but the authorities revoked his Vietnamese citizenship and forced him out of Vietnam.

The escalating oppression and arrest of democracy activists is a slap in the face of the Australian Government considering the upcoming annual fourteenth Human Rights Dialogue between Australia and Vietnam this month.

Human Rights Relief Foundation calls on the Australian Government and the international community to push for the immediate release of all bloggers and social and democracy activists being jailed in Vietnam.

For further enquiry about this media release, please contact Chinh Dang on 0410 466 798 or Than Nguyen on 0412 341 395. is a slap in the face of the Australian Government considering the upcoming annual fourteenth Human Rights Dialogue between Australia and Vietnam this month.

Human Rights Relief Foundation calls on the Australian Government and the international community to push for the immediate release of all bloggers and social and democracy activists being jailed in Vietnam.

For further enquiry about this media release, please contact Chinh Dang on 0410 466 798 or Than Nguyen on 0412 341 395.