Tran Long Phi
Trần Long Phi
Detainment Type: Released - at risk
No image
Other Names: Trần Long Phi
Date of Birth: 1998
Gender: M
Ethnicity: Kinh
Known Prison(s):
HCM city Police detention center, No. 4 Phan Dang Luu, Ho Chi Minh city (?? - ??)
Activist Focus:
- Freedom of expression
- Sovereignty
Details
Tran Long Phi, who received an eight-year sentence for participating in protests against the Cybersecurity Bill in 2018, was released 21 months early from prison on Oct. 23. Phi said it was a total surprise, and he was not notified ahead of time. Phi was arrested in June 2017 along with several other individuals, including Huynh Duc Thanh Binh, who remains in prison serving a 10-year sentence for violating Article 109 — “activities to overthrow the government.”
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The People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City tried Michael Nguyen, Huynh Duc Thanh Binh, Tran Long Phi, and Huynh Duc Thinh (Binh's father) on Monday June 24, 2019 in a one-day trial (it was expected to be two days). Michael Nguyen was sentenced to 12 years, Huynh Duc Thanh Binh to 10 years, Tran Long Phi to eight years, and Huynh Duc Thinh to one year. Read more about the arrest and trial in the "Arrest" tab of this profile.
Background
Long Phi is a young Facebooker who living in Thailand before his arrest.
History of Activism
Tran Long Phi’s father, Tran Van Long said that Phi has participated in a human rights group, comprised of he and other young people concerned about Vietnam’s situation. Phi was said to have participated in the national demonstrations on June 10, 2018.
Sentenced to 8 years in prison and 3 years probation under Art. 109 (2015 Code). Released October 23, 2024.
June 24, 2019 - Date of trial
Doan Trong Nghia
8 years in prison and 3 years probation
July 7, 2026
October 23, 2024
Details of Imprisonment
Phi was said to be arrested on July 7, 2018, the same day with Huynh Duc Thanh Binh, when they were on the way back to Ho Chi Minh City from a tour of Hue and Danang. However, it is unclear whether he will be criminally charged or not.
Police did not announce his arrest to his family or state media but accused him of “coming back Vietnam to overthrow the government” in a search order directed towards Thomas Quoc Bao.
According to Huynh Duc Thanh Binh's mother, Phi is being detained together with her son and Michael Nguyen at 4 Phan Dang Luu street, Ho Chi Minh city.
After some effort, the family was able to send clothes to Phi, but they were not allowed to see him before the trial.
June 2019:
The People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City tried Michael Nguyen, Huynh Duc Thanh Binh, Tran Long Phi, and Huynh Duc Thinh (Binh's father) on Monday June 24, 2019. Michael Nguyen was sentenced to 12 years, Huynh Duc Thanh Binh to 10 years, Tran Long Phi to eight years, and Huynh Duc Thinh to one year. Nguyen will be deported after completing his sentence. All except Thinh were convicted of subversion for allegedly planning to incite protests and attack government offices. The four were arrested in July, 2018. Another person, Truong Quoc Bao (Thomas Quoc Bao), was also arrested at the same time, but he managed to escape when the police took him back to his home for a search. There is no news on his whereabouts. It was a short and speedy trial in Ho Chi Minh city. Scheduled to be a two day trial, it was finished in less than four hours.
The 88 Project is aware of and investigating the claims of violence involved in these cases. However, in the absence of a free press environment, the defendants should be given the benefit of the doubt, and any accusation by the authorities against them should not be taken for granted.
Resources
Vietnam arrests US citizen, four locals on subversion allegation amid Growing social dissatisfaction, Defend the Defenders, July 28, 2018
Việt kiều Mỹ bị bắt cùng 4 nhà bất đồng chính kiến, Tiếng Dân Newspaper, August 2, 2018
Một người Mỹ gốc Việt nghi bị mất tích tại Việt Nam, Tiếng Dân Newspaper, July 31, 2018
Young Activist Huynh Duc Thanh Binh charged with Subversion, Defend the Defenders, August 8, 2018
In Vietnam, U.S. Citizen Gets 12-Year Sentence for Trying to Overthrow State, The New York Times, June 24, 2019
Vietnam jails American for 12 years on charge of attempting to overthrow state, Reuters, June 24, 2019
Profile last updated: 2024-11-12 15:06:38