Vietnam to Try Three Hoa Hao Buddhist Activists on February 7

Defend the Defenders, January 29, 2018

Authorities in Vietnam’s southern province of An Giang will try three religious activists Bui Van Trung, Bui Van Tham and Nguyen Hoang Nam on February 7, more than seven months of their arrests, Ms. Bui Thi Tham, a daughter of Mr. Trung told Defend the Defenders.

Mr. Trung and his son Mr. Tham were arrested on June 26, 2017 while their common friend Nam was detained one day later.

Trung, 58, is charged with “resisting persons in the performance of their official duties” under Article 257 of the country’s 1999 Penal Code while Tham was accused of “causing public disorders” under Article 245 and “resisting persons in the performance of their official duties” under Article 257 of the same law.

Mr. Nam was alleged of “causing public disorders.”

According to the Vietnamese current law, people may face imprisonment of up to seven years for every charge of the two allegations.

Ms. Tham was also detained on the day of the arrest of her father and brother, but released several hours due to her weak health condition. Police brutally beat her, making her find difficult to breath.

Both Trung and Tham were former prisoner of conscience. They were arrested in 2012 due to their activities which aim to fight for religious freedom. Later, Trung was sentenced to four years in prison while the son was given 30 months in prison on allegation under Article 257.

Trung, Tham and Nam have been listed as prisoners of conscience by BPSOS, Defend the Defenders and other 12 international and domestic NGOs in their Now! Campaign.