by Defend the Defenders, March 03, 2017
The Security Investigation Agency of the Hanoi Police Department arrested two activists, Vu Quang Thuan and Nguyen Van Dien, for making and spreading “harmful video clips” on the Internet, state media reported Friday.
Mr. Thuan, born in 1966, and Mr. Dien, born in 1983, both live in the capital city’s Dong Da district.
The police said they conducted a search of their private residences and are continuing to investigate the case.
The charges against the two activists are unclear. They may face charges of conducting “anti-state propaganda” under Article 88 of the Penal Code or “abusing democratic freedoms” under the Code’s Article 258.
In recent months, the duo produced tens of video clips in which Mr. Thuan as a speaker criticized the Communist leaders and their government for human rights violations, corruption, and weak response to China’s violations of the country’s sovereignty in the East Sea (South China Sea).
Late President Ho Chi Minh and incumbent General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong are among figures criticized by Mr. Thuan, who is a former prisoner of conscience.
Their clips were viewed by millions of Vietnamese Internet users.
Vietnam’s communist government has used controversial articles such as 79, 88, and 258 of the Penal Code to silent local political dissidents, social activists and human rights defenders despite international calls for the removal of these “national security” provisions from the Penal Code.
So far this year, Hanoi has arrested five activists. In January, Vietnamese authorities arrested human rights activists Tran Thi Nga and Nguyen Van Oai, as well as blogger Nguyen Van Hoa. Land rights and labor rights activist Nga is charged with “anti-state propaganda,” while pro-democracy activist Oai is accused of resisting on-duty state officials. Blogger Hoa is accused of “abusing democratic freedoms.”
According to Amnesty International, Vietnam is holding at least 112 prisoners of conscience. Hanoi has consistently denied this, saying it holds only persons who broke the law.
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March 3, 2017
Vietnam Arrests Two Activists, Accusing Them of Spreading “Toxic Clips” on Internet
by Nhan Quyen • Nguyen Van Dien, Vu Quang Thuan
by Defend the Defenders, March 03, 2017
The Security Investigation Agency of the Hanoi Police Department arrested two activists, Vu Quang Thuan and Nguyen Van Dien, for making and spreading “harmful video clips” on the Internet, state media reported Friday.
Mr. Thuan, born in 1966, and Mr. Dien, born in 1983, both live in the capital city’s Dong Da district.
The police said they conducted a search of their private residences and are continuing to investigate the case.
The charges against the two activists are unclear. They may face charges of conducting “anti-state propaganda” under Article 88 of the Penal Code or “abusing democratic freedoms” under the Code’s Article 258.
In recent months, the duo produced tens of video clips in which Mr. Thuan as a speaker criticized the Communist leaders and their government for human rights violations, corruption, and weak response to China’s violations of the country’s sovereignty in the East Sea (South China Sea).
Late President Ho Chi Minh and incumbent General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong are among figures criticized by Mr. Thuan, who is a former prisoner of conscience.
Their clips were viewed by millions of Vietnamese Internet users.
Vietnam’s communist government has used controversial articles such as 79, 88, and 258 of the Penal Code to silent local political dissidents, social activists and human rights defenders despite international calls for the removal of these “national security” provisions from the Penal Code.
So far this year, Hanoi has arrested five activists. In January, Vietnamese authorities arrested human rights activists Tran Thi Nga and Nguyen Van Oai, as well as blogger Nguyen Van Hoa. Land rights and labor rights activist Nga is charged with “anti-state propaganda,” while pro-democracy activist Oai is accused of resisting on-duty state officials. Blogger Hoa is accused of “abusing democratic freedoms.”
According to Amnesty International, Vietnam is holding at least 112 prisoners of conscience. Hanoi has consistently denied this, saying it holds only persons who broke the law.