November 6, 2014

Vietnam Security Force Violates Law in Indictment of Famous Blogger: Lawyers

by • Nguyen Huu Vinh (Anh Ba Sam)

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by Vu Quoc Ngu, Nov 5, 2014
Defend the Defenders
Vietnam police have violated the law in arresting and indicting famous blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh, who ran a well-known website AnhBaSam covering articles critical of the government, local lawyers said.
Anh Ba Sam on the job in Vietnam

Anh Ba Sam on the job in Vietnam

Lawyer Trinh Huu Long said that the arrest of blogger Ba Sam and his co-worker Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy violated Article 81 of the Penal Code and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Mr. Vinh, a former security official, and Mrs. Thuy have been detained since May 13th in a pressing arrest.
The police also broke the law and violated the freedom of expression as they arrested the duo for posting articles on the Internet, Mr. Long said, adding that Vinh and Thuy are indicted under Article 258 of the Penal Code.
Meanwhile, lawyer Ha Huy Son, who represents the duo, said that the case has seriously violated legal proceedings in accordance with Vietnam’s Criminal Law in 2003.
The communist government arrested activists first and then found evidence to serve their accusations later, he said.
Mr. Long said that activists should put pressure on the government by calling for international support on both legal and political stances.
Writer Pham Viet Dao, who was arrested last year for posting articles critical of the government, said that the arrest of Mr. Vinh is similar to the arrests of other activists who call for democracy in the country.
Under Article 258, Mr. Vinh, whose father is a former senior communist official, could face up to seven years in prison.
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