Pre-trial Detention of Vietnamese Retired Teacher Dao Quang Thuc Likely Extended

Teacher Dao Quang Thuc and his students several years ago

Defend the Defenders, January 27, 2018

Vietnam’s authorities are likely extending the pre-trial detention of retired teacher Dao Quang Thuc, who was arrested on October 5 last year and charged with “carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the administration, which comes under Article 79 of the country’s 1999 Penal Code.

His daughter Dao Ngoc Bich Quynh Trang told Defend the Defenders that recently she went to ask the Police Investigation Agency under the Hoa Binh province’s Police Department about her father and the police replied that his pre-detention will be extended for four more months.

However, police have yet to provide any written form of their decision, the daughter said, adding the first four-month detention will be finished on February 5.

Mr. Thuc has been held incommunicado since being detained nearly four months ago.

On October 5, Hoa Binh police conducted an urgent arrest of Mr. Thuc and carried out searching his private residence in Toan Son commune, Da Bac district.

Mr. Thuc retired recently. He has participated in a number of peaceful activities which aimed to protest China’s violations of the country’s sovereignty in the East Sea (South China Sea), protect environment and fight against corruption. He had also posted his opinions about these issues on social networks including Facebook.

He was among over 40 activists arrested and charged with controversial Articles 79, and 88 of the national security provisions in the 1999 Penal Code last year.