Profile

Huynh Minh Tam

Current Status: Sentenced to prison

Photo of Huynh Minh Tam

Other Names: Huỳnh Minh Tâm, Huỳnh Trí Tâm

Date of Birth:

Gender: M

Ethnicity: Kinh

Last Known Prison: Gia Trung prison, Gia Lai province

Areas of Activism:

  • Anti-corruption
  • Freedom of expression
  • Sovereignty

Details

Immediate Concerns

August 2024:

Four families joined each other to visit their loved ones imprisoned at Gia Trung Prison in Gia Lai Province on July 31 and August 1. They are family members of Luu Van Vinh (serving 15 years), Huynh Minh Tam (9 years), Nguyen Thi Xuan, and Nguyen Doan Quang Vien. The group chose to visit on the last day of the month so that they could turn around and visit again the next day since by law they’re only allowed one visit per month. Many families choose to do it this way to save money and time due to the long distances they have to travel, even though it means that they essentially can only see their loved ones once every two months — but for two days in a row.

***

In a letter home, Huynh Minh Tam told his sister, Huynh Thi To Nga, a former political prisoner herself, that conditions inside the K5 camp at Gia Trung Prison in Gia Lai province have improved somewhat since his petitions two years ago. For example, prisoners can now have hot water from the new 180-liter pressure boiler. Further, Tam said he could now grow roses and strawberries “to while away the time” because prisoners are now allowed to go outside earlier during the day than before and in the afternoon. 

January 2024:

Recently released political prisoner Huynh Thi To Nga visited her brother Huynh Minh Tam at Gia Trung Prison and reported on Jan. 22 that Tam’s health was stable even though he looked very gaunt and skinny. He still was kept in a cell by himself, with a security camera. Tam said he covered up the camera with tape but was not reprimanded by the warden. The visit lasted only one hour, but the roundtrip journey took Nga 30 hours. However, Nga said Gia Trung actually allows prisoners to receive more monthly supplies than the 7 kg she was allowed to receive at An Diem Prison. Tam told Nga that political prisoner Truong Van Dung had just been transferred to Gia Trung and put in a cell next to his, alone.

Background

Profile photo source: Facebook Selena Zen

History of Activism

Huynh Minh Tam often posts many articles on national issues, especially national sovereignty, corruption, and economic mismanagement, on his Facebook account named Huỳnh Trí Tâm. There are more than 1,000 people following him on Facebook.

Family Situation

Tam is married and has two young children.

His sister is Huynh Thi To Nga, whose Facebook nicknames are Selena Zen and Dieu Hang. To Nga has been missing since January 28, 2019, only two days after Huynh Minh Tam’s arrest.

Sentenced to 9 years in prison under Art. 117 (2015 Code). Expected Release is January 26, 2028.

January 26, 2019
  • Art. 117 (2015 Code)
Dong Nai province public security, Dong Nai province
Private house, Dong Nai province (map)
November 28, 2019 - Date of trial
The People’s Court of Dong Nai Province
9 years in prison
January 26, 2028

Details of Imprisonment

At around 8:00 am on January 26, 2019, public security of Dong Nai province stormed into his private house, believed to be in Dong Nai province, and took Huynh Minh Tam to the province police station. They then searched his house but did not release any official arrest warrant. His arrest was believed to be derived from his articles on Facebook, which sometimes criticize the government. The charges against Tam are currently unknown.

November 2019:

Huynh Minh Tam was sentenced to nine years in prison, and his sister 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. In particular, Tam allegedly used two Facebook accounts, “Huỳnh Trí Tâm” and “Huỳnh Tâm,” to post and call people to join a closed group, Republic Party (Dang Cong Hoa), which aims to encourage others to protest against the state. 

 

Resources

Việt Nam bắt giữ facebooker Huỳnh Trí Tâm nhưng chưa công bố cáo buộc, Saigon Broadcasting Television Network, January 28, 2019

Two Siblings in Dong Nai Sentenced to Fourteen Years in Jail, The 88 Project, December 1, 2019

Facebook Selena Zen

Facebook Huỳnh Trí Tâm

Intervirews with the family

Profile last updated: 2024-08-16 20:30:51

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