Pham Van Diep

December 2020:

Update: Nguyen Van Hoa ended his hunger strike after eight days. Truyen and Diep also ended their hunger strike. The three reportedly resumed eating after their demands were approved by the prison administration, though it is unclear exactly what those demands were.

Three political prisoners have been on a hunger strike at An Diem Prison since at least November 20. They are Nguyen Bac Truyen, Pham Van Diep, and Nguyen Van Hoa. On November 26, Hoa’s sister visited him and reported that her brother looked pale and weak and had been on a hunger strike for seven days. They were protesting violations of their human rights, such as not being allowed to send or receive letters, not being given adequate healthcare, and being transferred to prisons far from their hometowns, causing hardship for their families. All their requests have been ignored by the authorities, even Truyen’s 2019 petition for a medical examination.

Mr Diep is a Russian citizen of Vietnamese descent. He was born in Thanh Hoa province. When Hoang Minh Chinh reactivated the Democratic Party of Vietnam in 2006, Mr Diep joined the Party and fought for democracy in Vietnam. He has written many articles on socio-political issues in Vietnam.

State-owned newspaper reported that Mr. Diep studied in Russia before becoming involved in “anti-State activities.” They also said that he already served 21 months in Laotian prison for “using Laos territory to conspire against neighbouring countries (Vietnam).” Back in Vietnam after serving the sentence in Laos, he continued to share his political views on Facebook and participated in protests against Formosa, after the toxic waste spill, in 2016 and against the draft bills on Cybersecurity and Special Economic Zones in 2018.