Vietnam Free Expression Newsletter No. 27/2024 – Week of July 4-13

Greetings from Project88. We bring you news, analysis, and actions regarding human rights and civil society in Vietnam during the week of July 4-13.

Montagnard activist Y Quynh Bdap faces an immigration hearing on July 15. He was arrested in Bangkok on June 11 in response to a request by the foreign affairs office of the Thai public prosecutor, and the arrest warrant cited his conviction on terrorism charges in Vietnam. If extradited, he faces 10 years in prison.

In the absence of concrete evidence implicating Bdap, Project88 has called for his immediate release. “Vietnam has to date not presented any proof that Y Quynh Bdap was involved in the Dak Lak incident,” said Project88’s Kaylee Uland. “The extradition request appears to be a ploy to silence Bdap’s activism because the Vietnamese authorities so far have been unable to do so otherwise.”

***

In other news this week, prominent blogger Nguyen Chi Tuyen could soon face trial. A political prisoner has been released early from prison. One former political prisoner, now out of the country, alleges she was contacted by Vietnamese police. Another is publishing a book one year after his release from prison. And Project88’s Ben Swanton urged the EU to use its bilateral human rights dialogue with Vietnam to press for the repeal Directive 24, not simply go through the diplomatic motions. Read more in Are EU-Vietnam human rights talks a lost cause? DW; 2024-07-11.

HUMAN RIGHTS & CIVIL SOCIETY

Y Quynh Bdap

Y Quynh Bdap will have a hearing on his immigration status by a Thai court on July 15. Bdap is a Protestant and co-founder of the group Montagnards Stand For Justice; he was arrested in Bangkok after being interviewed for resettlement at the Canadian embassy last month. Vietnam claims that Y Quynh engaged in terrorism by being involved in the deadly Dak Lak uprising last year – a charge Quynh firmly denies, and requests that Thai authorities extradited him to Vietnam. If returned, he faces ten years in prison. He was convicted in absentia in a mass trial of 100 people in January 2024. Vietnam has yet to offer evidence of his alleged involvement in the Dak Lak incident. Bloggers Truong Duy Nhat and Thai Van Duong were both likely abducted by Vietnamese authorities while living in Thailand and are now imprisoned in Vietnam. Read more about Bdap’s activism and background of his case, here, along with a brief video interview of him in his own words.

Nguyen Chi Tuyen

A member of blogger Nguyen Chi Tuyen’s family reported that the authorities completed the investigation on Tuyen, aka Anh Chi, in the first week of June. His case has been forwarded to the prosecution’s office and the courts. Chi’s family has contacted lawyers to prepare for his defense. Chi is charged with disseminating anti-state propaganda under Article 117.

In other news this week, a woman named Mai Diep Thao from Dak Nong County was arrested and charged with “abusing democratic freedoms” for publicly insulting the police, after her complaints about being attacked by police and having her property confiscated were allegedly dismissed by the authorities. Police said Thao posted numerous video clips and social media posts containing untruths and misinformation about them.

In the latest in a string of arrests of politicians in recent months, a deputy of the National Assembly, Le Thanh Van, has been charged with “abusing position and power to influence others” according to Article 358 of the Criminal Code. The case supposedly is connected to that of Luu Binh Nhuong, another Assembly member who was arrested late last year on corruption charges.

Former political prisoners allege wrongdoings by the state.

Truong Huu Loc

Truong Huu Loc, who participated in street protests against the cybersecurity and economic zone bills in 2018 and was later sentenced to eight years in prison, was released two years early. Trung confirmed to us the same details provided to RFA, that he believes the reason he was released early is because he was going to expose corruption by prison officials, so they decided to let him out. Loc told RFA that when a prisoner is considered for early release, oftentimes they’re approached by officials for bribery to get their sentence reduced. Loc also said he had accumulated a lot of evidence of violations of criminal laws and of “savage beatings of prisoners.” After spending one year at a temporary detention center, Trung was tried on June 29, 2019, and did not have lawyers to represent him.

On the one-year anniversary of his release from prison – July 5, 2024, Le Anh Hung released the PDF version of his latest book titled “Power and the Societal Problem of Controlling It.” Author Nguyen Nguyen Binh noted that the content of Hung’s book “has a very wide range and is highly systematic. I have yet to see a book published in Vietnam with an integrated, systematic view like that.” Hung was arrested on July 5, 2018, and sentenced to six years in prison for “abusing democratic freedoms,” during which time he was held against his will in a psychiatric ward for three years. Hung also spoke of being physically assaulted on several occasions. The print version of his book will be released shortly. Meanwhile, the PDF version is available here.

Former political prisoner Pham Thanh Nghien, who resettled in the U.S. in April of last year with her husband Huynh Anh Tu, himself also a former prisoner, told VOA that she believes she’s being “monitored by Vietnamese agents in the U.S.” Nghien said she received a phone call from a man named Trong who said he was from the Ministry of Public Security and invited her and her husband to dinner. Nghien immediately declined the invitation and reported the incident to both the FBI and the State Department.

Behind bars in Vietnam, political prisoners continue to endure sweltering heat and allege difficulties obtaining adequate nutrition.

Do Nam Trung

Do Nam Trung’s partner, Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet, told Project88 that his mother was able to visit him on June 23 and that although he looked OK, Trung complained that the heat inside his cell is “suffocating.” June 7 was the third anniversary of Trung’s arrest, Tuyet said, yet she still has not been allowed to see him because they are not legally married, although they have one child together. Tuyet said she has filed several applications for a marriage certificate but still has not received any response from the authorities. Trung is serving a 10-year sentence for spreading “anti-state propaganda” under Article 117.

Land rights activist Trinh Ba Phuong’s wife, Do Thi Thu, was able to take both of the children to visit their father at An Diem Prison on July 4. Thu said although Phuong’s health is stable, being kept in the cell 24/7 is “a method to weaken my husband physically, and he has stated that clearly on his physical exam report.” Other than food supplemented by the family, Phuong has been eating only rice and vegetables, but not any fish or meat provided by the prison, because he says they’re not safe and often made him ill. Phuong is serving a 10-year sentence.

Muong activist Bui Van Thuan’s wife, Trinh Thi Nhung, and his parents visited him at Prison No. 6 in Nghe An in early July. Thuan said he’s been a vegetarian for a month now and asked the family to stop sending him any non-vegetarian food. Thuan told them he was feeling better physically and more relaxed mentally “since I don’t really have any choice but to adapt to the harsh climate here.” A member of the Brotherhood for Democracy, Thuan is serving eight years in prison.

Music teacher Dang Dang Phuoc’s wife, Le Thi Ha, visited him at Xuan Phuoc Prison in early July. Ha told Project88 she was totally shocked to see how thin and gaunt he was. According to Phuoc, after the visit on May 9, he was put in isolation and shackled on the right leg. However, after only two days his ankle was swollen so badly that he had to repeatedly request to have it looked at by the medical staff. They finally relented and moved the shackle to his left leg. During the 10-day ordeal, Phuoc could only wear his shorts. He was given one small bowl of plain rice per meal plus a 1.5 liter can of water. Phuoc said he did not eat the rice. He used the water for washing his face and body, tearing off the sleeves and pockets on his shirt, which the guards had left nearby, to use as towels. After ten days, Phuoc said he could not walk out of the isolation cell on his own but had to be helped. He said he has filed at least two complaints, on June 16 and 21, about the incident but has not received any official response. By the time he was allowed back to his cell, much of the food supplies Ha had sent him had spoiled and were not edible.

Five Catholics and six Protestants who are jailed in Vietnam have allegedly gone missing from police custody. Some of the group had been incarcerated since 2011, and family and friends of the detained raised alarm after contact was lost. Among the group are Montagnard Protestants Siu Hlom, Ro Mah Pla, Rmah Bloanh and Rmah Khil, who were accused of ‘undermining national unity policy’ and have been charged under Articles 117 and 331 of the Criminal Code. Project88 has been unable to independently verify this story.

VIETNAM IN THE WORLD

Steel Pursues Justice for Vietnamese Victims of Human Rights Abuses. Congresswoman Michelle Steel; 2024-07-10. In light of rising human rights abuses by the Communist Party of Vietnam, Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-45) is calling on U.S. and Thai diplomats to assist in the release of two Vietnamese activists currently jailed for human rights advocacy. Steel represents a large population of Vietnamese Americans in the Little Saigon community of Orange County. Y Quynh Bdap, a Vietnamese refugee and religious freedom advocate who was arrested by the government of Thailand, is awaiting a July 15 hearing following an extradition request by Vietnam. A Christian Montagnard known for religious freedom advocacy, Y Quynh Bdap would likely face immediate arrest, torture, and lengthy prison time upon arrival in Vietnam. Steel is requesting that Thailand Ambassador to the U.S. Suriya Chindawongse work to release Y Quynh Bdap and ensure his resettlement to a different country.

Several international organizations have called for Y Quynh Bdap’s immediate release into safety:

Thailand: Arbitrary arrest and imminent risk of extradition of Vietnamese human rights defender Y Quynh Bdap. FIDH; 2024-07-04.

Thailand: Montagnard indigenous activist must not be extradited to face torture in Vietnam. Amnesty International; 2024-07-11

What’s at Stake in the US Decision to Grant Vietnam ‘Market Economy’ Status? The Diplomat; 2024-07-10. The most anticipated event in Vietnam-U.S. relations this year is the possible U.S. granting of market economy status to Vietnam. On July 26, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) will decide whether Vietnam meets the criteria for the change. This came after the two nations upgraded their relationship from a comprehensive partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP) during President Joe Biden’s visit to Hanoi in September of last year.

US Warship Makes Rare Call at Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay Port. The Diplomat; 2024-07-10. The USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, is paying a visit this week to Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay, the latest sign of the improved relations between the two nations. The Blue Ridge has returned to central Vietnam, a half-century after taking part in the final phase of the U.S. war in Vietnam.

NEWS AND ANALYSIS

In Vietnamese – 

In a letter to the Party’s Central Commission on Public Security, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong commended the Ministry of Public Security for its fight against “enemies of the state.” Trong also cautioned the Commission to be vigilant against leaks of internal documents and information, as well as be more forceful against “peaceful revolution” and “self evolution.”

***

Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) in Indonesia and Vietnam: Implications for Southeast Asia. Fulcrum; 2024-07-09. JETP implementation in Vietnam and Indonesia faces challenges such as significant financing gaps, criticisms regarding the attractiveness of financing packages, difficulties in aligning donor and recipient countries’ expectations, the complex political-economic landscape of the coal industry, and concerns over the social impacts of energy transitions.

No word from Thích Minh Tuệ in nearly 3 weeks, monk’s relatives say. RFA; 2024-07-01. An independent Buddhist monk whose barefoot pilgrimage across Vietnam became an internet sensation hasn’t contacted relatives in almost three weeks, and family members have asked police for help in locating him. The younger brother of Thich Minh Tue sent a letter on Monday to police in Gia Lai province in Vietnam’s Central Highlands saying that the family is “worried and confused” because they have received no information about Tue and his mental and physical health for nearly 20 days. Tue, whose real name is Le Anh Tu, drew a wide following on social media in May when influencers documented his journey across Vietnam on TikTok and other social media platforms. Supporters were drawn to his simple lifestyle and humble demeanor.

Related: Vietnamese YouTubers fined for video of rock resembling monk. RFA; 2024-07-08.

Is Vietnam’s anti-corruption drive a disguised power grab? Nikkei Asia; 2024-07-08. Vietnam’s new president, To Lam, made his de facto diplomatic debut in June when he oversaw official events during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the country. Communist Party General-Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam’s paramount leader, attended the summit with Putin but remained seated throughout. Putin showed concern for the 80-year-old party chief, who has held the post since 2011, appearing to confirm long-rumored worries about Trong’s deteriorating health. During Putin’s visit, it was To Lam who led talks with the Russian leader. To Lam, who took office in May, rose to the presidency on the heels of Trong’s vigorous anti-corruption campaign, which has profoundly shifted the country’s political landscape and resulted in the dismissal of several top government officials.

Political upheaval in Vietnam is holding its economy back. Lowy Institute; 2024-07-08. Vietnam in many ways seems the belle of the ball in Southeast Asia. Economically it has been amongst the top beneficiaries as multinational firms and supply chains look to diversify out of China. And that’s because in part geo-strategically it also seems well positioned: what other country could host the leaders of the United States, China and Russia within the space of a year? But look beyond the headlines, and the picture is less rosy. 2023 was a tough year for the Vietnamese economy, with growth at just 5%. There has been some pickup this year, with the economy expected to expand by 6%. That would be pretty good for most countries but is subpar by Vietnam’s standards, with growth averaging over 7% in the pre-Covid years and hopes of reaching high income status by 2045. Political upheaval, a contentious anti-corruption campaign, and stalled decision making are undermining the recovery and risk limiting Vietnam’s ability to benefit from shifting global supply chains.

© 2024 The 88 Project