Profile

Huynh Duc Thinh

Current Status: Released - at risk

Photo of Huynh Duc Thinh

Other Names: Huỳnh Đức Thịnh

Date of Birth: 1952

Gender: M

Ethnicity: Kinh

Last Known Prison: HCM city Police detention center, No. 4 Phan Dang Luu, Ho Chi Minh city

Areas of Activism:

  • Democracy
  • Human rights

Details

Immediate Concerns

December 2020:

Huynh Duc Thinh, 68, suffered a brain hemorrhage just a few weeks before finishing his sentence, says his ex-wife Nguyen Thi Hue. He’s been transferred to Hospital 115 in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Background

Thinh is a former political prisoner, living in Lam Dong Province before his arrest. 

Family Situation

Huynh Duc Thinh is a former political prisoner. He is the father of Huynh Duc Thanh Binh, who was arrested with Michael Phuong Minh Nguyen and two others on July 7 on the way from Da Nang back to Ho Chi Minh City.

He is divorced, and his ex-wife, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hue, is the only one who supplies food and other items to him and his son.

Sentenced to 1 year in prison under Art. 390 (2015 Code). Released December 19, 2020.

July 24, 2018
  • Art. 390 (2015 Code)
Ho Chi Minh city public security, Ho Chi Minh city
Lam Dong Province (map)
June 24, 2019 - Date of trial
The People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City
1 year in prison
July 24, 2019
December 19, 2020
Details of Imprisonment

On July 8, police arrested Mr. Thinh after searching his house. He was alleged to have covered the activities of his son and allowed such people as Michael Phuong Minh Nguyen to stay with him. 

June 2019:

The People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City tried Michael NguyenHuynh Duc Thanh BinhTran 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.

Huynh Duc Thinh has previously been released from physical detention but needed to report his residence every week to authorities at police station no. 4, Phan Dang Luu street, Binh Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

November 2019:

U.S. citizen Michael Nguyen‘s 12-year prison sentence was upheld after a short appeal trial on November 6. Huynh Duc Thinh's sentence was also upheld. 

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

Young Activist Huynh Duc Thanh Binh charged with Subversion, Defend the Defenders, August 8, 2018

Vietnam jails American for 12 years on charge of attempting to overthrow state, Reuters, June 24, 2019

In Vietnam, U.S. Citizen Gets 12-Year Sentence for Trying to Overthrow State, The New York Times, June 24, 2019

Prisoner of Conscience Huynh Duc Thinh Suffers from Hemorrhagic Stroke Few Weeks Before His One-Year Imprisonment Ends, Defend the Defenders, December 9, 2020

Profile last updated: 2024-06-13 20:34:04

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