Bac Giang Province-based Former Prisoner of Conscience Detained while Seeking for Justice

đinh văn nhượng

While waiting for his turn, policemen came to detain him to a local police station for questioning. Later, they transferred him to Yen The district police where he was under interrogation again. They accused him of breaking regulations for house arrest.

By Vu Quoc Ngu | Jun 18, 2015

Mr. Dinh Van Nhuong, 57, a former prisoner of conscience in Vietnam’s northern province of Bac Giang, was detained on June 15 while he was waiting to fill his denunciation in the local government building to demand for justice.

About ten years ago, local authorities in Bac Giang illegally seized land of Mr. Nhuong family and other families. He peacefully protested and arrested in mid 2011, charged with “anti-state propaganda” allegation. He was sentenced to four years in jail and additional three years under house arrest.

Mr. Nhuong said he was treated like animal by prison’s authorities during the imprisonment. He was regularly tortured and forced to confess guilty. Due to the inhumane treatment, he confessed and was released on  May 7 this year, one month before the term ended.

Returned home in Dong Tam village, Tan Hiep commune in Yen The district, Mr. Nhuong wants to seek for justice. On Monday, he went to the province office where local authorities meet and accept denunciation from citizens. He registered to meet the chairman of the provincial People’s Committee to settle his case which he considers as legal miscarriage.

While waiting for his turn, policemen came to detain him to a local police station for questioning. Later, they transferred him to Yen The district police where he was under interrogation again. They accused him of breaking regulations for house arrest.

At 4.30 PM on the same day, Mr. Nhuong was allowed to go home, according to local dissident website Danlambao (Citizen Journalist.)

In Vietnam, all land belongs to the state and residents have only right to use. The government and local authorities are empowered to take land from residents for socio-economic development.

Thousands of Vietnamese have been expelled from their land which can be turned on property or industrial projects.

Thousands of Vietnamese land petitioners have been gathering in front of government buildings in Hanoi and other cities to demand for justice.

They have been subjects of harassment and persecution of police. Last week, Hanoi security forces arrested Vu Thi Hai, a land petitioner from the northern province of Ninh Binh without informing her family and friends.

Hanoi-based blogger Mai Dung said Vietnam’s police have arrested and jailed 70 land petitioners during the past three years.