Huynh Thi To Nga

Huynh Thi To Nga was missing for several weeks after she was last seen around 3 pm on Monday, January 28, 2019. She was allegedly kidnapped by plainclothes agents from the hospital where she works.

July 2019:

Activist Huynh Thi To Nga is now known to be held in Dong Nai province's detention center. Her family told activists in Ho Chi Minh City that they asked the authorities to let them meet with her, but so far, the request has been denied. Authorities told the family that she is under investigation and cannot have visitors. They have not announced charges against her.

November 2019:

October 28, 2019 marked nine months since Facebooker Huynh Thi To Nga was allegedly kidnapped by plainclothes agents from the hospital where she works. She is now known to be held in Dong Nai province‘s detention center. Her family told activists in Ho Chi Minh City that they asked the authorities to let them meet with her, but so far, the request has been denied. Authorities told the family that she is under investigation and cannot have visitors. They have not announced charges against her.

***

On November 28, 2019, the People's Court of Dong Nai Province tried siblings Huynh Minh Tam and Huynh Thi To Nga under Article 117 of the 2015 Criminal Code for “making, storing, spreading information, materials, items for the purpose of opposing the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam." Huynh Minh Tam was sentenced to nine years in prison, and Huynh Thi To Nga was sentenced to five. In the indictment, the authorities accused the two activists of using the Internet to read and share articles or websites of “reactionaries,” a term that the government usually uses to name political opponents or critics. Both were said to use Facebook accounts to contact overseas “reactionaries” and post articles with anti-state content. Nga was also said to post many articles with content defaming the regime and distorting national issues and history through two Facebook accounts, “Selena Zen” and “Dieu Hang.” The Court also accused her of participating in “unauthorized” demonstrations and inciting others to join protests for democracy.

Both were active Facebookers and sharp commentators on politics and national issues, including national sovereignty, corruption, and economic mismanagement. Notably, Nga was allegedly kidnapped by plainclothes agents from the hospital where she works. She was missing for several weeks before being found in a detention center in Dong Nai Province. Nga was arrested when one of her children was under 36 months old.