Hanoi-based Activists Hold Demonstration Against Vietcombank Illegal Keeping Money of Prominent Dissident

DTD | May 14,2015

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Vietcombank’s officials unveiled that the Ministry of Public Security ordered to frozen Mr. Giang’s account because Vietnamese-French Nguyen Gia Kieng in Paris sent money to Giang’s account. Mr. Kieng is an intellectual and work for promoting multi-party democracy. The Vietnamese government considers Kieng as dangerous figure threatening the ruling position of the communist regime.

By Vu Quoc Ngu | May 14, 2015

Dozens of Hanoi-based activists on May 12 held a street demonstration to protest the Joint Stock Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam, or Vietcombank (VCB), which illegally refuses to pay Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giang, a well-known political dissident in the capital city, local media reported.

Physic expert Giang, who is famous for his online articles advocating multi-party democracy, has complained that the Thanh Xuan district branch of Vietcombank has refused to allow him to withdraw money from his account in the bank.

When Dr. Giang and his friend went to the Vietcombank’s branch to take money, the bank officials said his account was frozen under an order of the Ministry of Public Security. However, they refused to show any related document from the police.

Bank officials recommended 80-year Giang to fill petition to the Ministry of Public Security, however, they refused to provide any documents to support their advice.

Mr. Giang insisted to take money in his account, and requested another meeting to settle the issue.

Vietcombank’s officials unveiled that the Ministry of Public Security ordered to frozen Mr. Giang’s account because Vietnamese-French Nguyen Gia Kieng in Paris sent money to Giang’s account. Mr. Kieng is an intellectual and work for promoting multi-party democracy. The Vietnamese government considers Kieng as dangerous figure threatening the ruling position of the communist regime.

Giang said, however, he also deposited money in his Vietcombank’s account, and couldn’t withdraw his money in the past five years.

Mr. Giang, a physical scientist, is the first victim of the Vietnamese banking system.

Due to his online articles which promote human rights and democracy in the one-party regime, Mr. Giang has been regular subject of police’s harrasment.

Many times, he had been detained by police for questioning for days.

He has been blocked by security forces to go out to meet foreign diplomats and other activists.

His private house is under constant surveillance of security agents.