Profile

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh

Current Status: Sentenced to prison

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Other Names: Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Hạnh, Tran Hoang Lan (Facebook)

Date of Birth: 1976

Gender: F

Ethnicity: Kinh

Occupation: Teaching professional

Last Known Prison: An Phuoc detention center, Binh Duong province

Areas of Activism:

  • Democracy
  • Freedom of expression
  • Human rights

Known Affiliations:

Highlighted Human Rights Concerns:

  • Prolonged Incommunicado Detention
  • Denial of Family Visit/Punitive Prison Transfer

March 2021:

Ngo Van Dung was transferred to An Phuoc Prison along with two others, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh and Le Quy Loc.

January 2021:

The court of appeals upheld the sentences of four activists alleged to be members of the Hien Phap (Constitution) group; they denied the affiliation at trial. They are Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh (eight years in prison); Ngo Van Dung and Le Quy Loc (five years each); and Ho Dinh Cuong (four years and six months). They were charged with “disturbing security”. Unlike the first trial, this time family members were allowed to observe the proceedings, albeit only via a video feed in the next room, due to the presence of the US Consul General in the courtroom.

Details - History of Activism, Contact Information.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh is a member of Hien Phap (Constitution) group, established on June 16, 2017, with the aim to promote people’s understanding of their human rights in the 2015 Constitution.

She and other members planned to call for a peaceful demonstration on September 4, just days prior to their arrest, to raise their voice on social issues, including human rights violations, corruption, territorial disputes, and environmental pollution.

Facebook page Trần Hoàng Lan

Arrested September 4, 2018. Sentenced to 8 years in prison and 3 years probation under Art. 118 (2015 Code). Expected Release is September 4, 2026.

September 4, 2018
  • Art. 118 (2015 Code)
Ho Chi Minh city public security, Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh City (map)
July 31, 2020
The People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City
8 years in prison and 3 years probation
September 4, 2026
  • freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention
  • liberty and security of the person
  • freedom of expression
  • freedom of peaceful assembly
  • freedom of association
  • fair trial
  • political participation
US government

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh was detained on September 4, 2018, ahead of planned demonstrations for Vietnam’s National Day and as part of a concerted crackdown against the Hien Phap group. Her family tried to visit her in January 2019 but was unable to, as she remained under pre-trial investigation.

February 2020:

Eight activists were scheduled to face trial by the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City on March 10 on charges of "disrupting security" under Article 118 of the 2015 Criminal Code. The eight had been detained without trial for almost a year and a half. Authorities previously postponed the trial twice. The group of eight defendants includes Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh, Hoang Thi Thu VangDo The HoaHo Dinh CuongTran Thanh PhuongNgo Van DungDoan Thi Hong and Le Quy Loc. Some are members of the Hien Phap group.

July 2020:

After several postponements of the trial, on July 31, the People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City sentenced eight defendants, some of whom are members of the Hien Phap constitutional rights group, to prison sentences ranging from two and a half years to-eight years on charges of “disrupting security.” The sentences were as follows:

  • Ngo Van Dung: five years in prison and two years of probation
  • Hoang Thi Thu Vang: seven years in prison and three years of probation
  • Do The Hoa: five years in prison and two years of probation
  • Ho Dinh Cuong: four and a half  years in prison and two years of probation
  • Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh: eight years in prison and three years of probation
  • Tran Thanh Phuong: three and a half years in prison and two years of probation
  • Le Quy Loc: five years in prison and three years of probation
  • Doan Thi Hong: two and a half years in prison and two years of probation

Family members and supporters were not allowed to attend the trial, and neither were US government representatives. One representative of the German Embassy was allowed to attend.

When her family attempted to visit her in January 2019, they were told to bring her medicine for her circulation, as well as calcium.

August 2020:

The US State Department released a statement condemning the imprisonment of Hien Phap group members, saying: “Although we have seen the Government of Vietnam take some positive steps on human rights in certain areas in Vietnam over the past few years, we are troubled about the growing trend of arrests of and harsh sentences for peaceful activists since early 2016.”

Profile last updated: 2021-04-05 01:10:18

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