TNLT Đặng Thị Huệ mãn án tù: Tôi sẽ tiếp tục đấu tranh chống BOT bẩn!, Radio Free Asia, January 20, 2023
Dang Thi Hue
Đặng Thị Huệ
Detainment Type: Released - at risk
Other Names: Đặng Thị Huệ
Date of Birth: December 25, 1981
Gender: F
Ethnicity: Kinh
Occupation: Teaching professional
Known Prison(s):
Hanoi Police Detention Center No. 1, Hanoi (May 8, 2020 - January 16, 2023)
Activist Focus:
- Anti-corruption
- Freedom of expression
Details
Immediate Concerns
May 2024:
Former political prisoner Dang Thi Hue told Project88 she was detained by six public security personnel – four men and two women– only one of whom was in uniform – outside her home in Thai Binh province on May 16. She was held in temporary detention for 24 hours without any notice given to her family. The incident was recorded by her neighbor’s security camera. Her third-grade son is now very afraid to go outside with his mother for fear of being arrested.
January 2023:
Activist Dang Thi Hue, who protested against corruption in BOT toll booths in 2019, finished her 39-month prison sentence and was released on January 16. On that day, many of her fellow BOT protesters went to Prison No. 5 in Thanh Hoa to greet her. But Hue said she was driven to a location about 30km north of the prison at 4:30 AM and left there alone in the cold. Hue spoke about mistreatment she and others suffered in prison and vowed to keep fighting to get BOT stations dismantled. We are aware of the allegations of mistreatment made and are attempting to investigate further.
Background
Hue’s hometown is in Thai Binh Province. She lives and works in Ha Noi.
Profile photo source: Dang Thi Hue’s Facebook
History of Activism
Hue is a part of the nationwide protest movement against the installation of toll booths across the country as the result of Build - Operate - Transfer projects (BOT projects). Many have criticized the locations of these toll booths, alleging that they are being charged with or without using the new road built by BOT companies. They also believe that this lucrative business (which can generate billions of Vietnam Dongs per day - approximately 50,000 USD to 100,000 USD per day) is corrupted by cronyism.
In Hue’s case, however, her actions specifically focus on Bac Thang Long-Noi Bai toll booth, which was already concluded to be unlawful by the Ha Noi local authority 10 years ago, but has somehow survived through three ministers of the Ministry of Transportation. Yet, activists protesting this toll still face police brutality and mistreatment.
May 20, 2019: detained and assaulted for participating in a peaceful demonstration
On the morning of May 20, many drivers and activists in Ha Noi arrived at Bac Thang Long-Noi Bai toll booth to express their opposition toward the existence of the toll booth, since it was denounced as unlawful by the local authorities 10 years ago.
Yet without any public discussion nor reasonable warning, the public security officers arrived and treated the activists like criminals. Many were beaten and harassed.
Hue was pregnant at the time. But after being beaten and violently dragged away, it is confirmed that she suffered a miscarriage. (Hue’s confirmation)
June 12, 2019: detained at toll booth
- Intimidation
- Property destruction
- Detention
June 12, 2019
Bac Thang Long-Noi Bai toll booth, Hanoi (map)
On June 12, 2019, Hue and a driver Nguyen Tran Cong were arrested at Bac Thang Long-Noi Bai toll booth, where they had gone to protest the toll booth’s fees. They were escorted to the public security office of Soc Son District and detained here for over four hours.
According to Hue’s online posts, she accused that the Soc Son’s public security force tried to frame her for a criminal conviction. Specifically, when Hue and Cong drove to Bac Thang Long - Noi Bai toll booth and argued about the legality of its location and existence, a group of security officers was already waiting to see if they could have any justification to arrest her and Cong.
Aware of this, after 11 minutes of negotiation, Hue and Cong decided to pay the toll fee, yet Soc Son’s police still confiscated the car and arrested both of them.
Hue and Cong filed official complaints to the competent authorities about the arrest and their car.
Sentenced to 39 months in prison under Art. 331 (2015 Code). Released January 16, 2023.
May 8, 2020 - Date of trial
Le Dinh Viet
39 months in prison
January 16, 2023
January 16, 2023
Details of Imprisonment
Facebooker Tran Thi Thu Thuy, a BOT protester who usually accompanied Hue to the protests and witnessed her arrest, reported that the public security of Soc Son District, Ha Noi, mobilized a powerful force to arrest Hue at 8:25 PM on October 16, 2019. Hue and Thuy were drinking tea on the street at that time. They then took Hue to her house in Vu Thu District, Thai Binh City, Thai Binh Province, to be searched. The search last for several hours.
One week after her arrest, Hue’s family still had not received any notification from Soc Son public security on her arrest. Her 15-year-old daughter, with the support of Thuy, only received a notice after going and requesting it from the communal public security office where Hue’s permanent residence is registered. In the notice, written on October 16 by the Soc Son Investigation Agency, Hue was accused of “disturbing public order,” the same accusation against imprisoned BOT protester Ha Van Nam. Her arrest took place only two days before the appeal trial against Ha Van Nam.
Hue was held at Detention Center No.1 of Hanoi Public Security, after being transferred from the Contemporary Detention Center of Soc Son District.
Hue, a single mother of two, was charged with “disturbing public order.” She lost weight in prison due to being unfamiliar with the eating schedule.
February 2020:
The public security of Ha Noi concluded its investigation against activist Dang Thi Hue, who was arrested in October 2019 for “disturbing public order.” They had previously accused her of possessing military equipment, including guns and special knives, after searching her apartment; but in the new investigation report, they crossed out this accusation due to lack of evidence.
May 2020:
On May 8, 2020, The People’s Court of Soc Son in Hanoi sentenced Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) activists Dang Thi Hue and Bui Manh Tien to 18 months in prison each. Both were charged under Article 331 of the 2015 Criminal Code for “abusing democratic freedoms.” Due to the addition of time that she will have to serve from a previous suspended sentence, Hue will serve 42 months in prison total. During the trial, several journalists and Hue’s friends who tried to attend the trial were beaten.
July 2020:
On July 30, the People’s Court of Hanoi reduced the prison sentences of Bui Manh Tien and Dang Thi Hue by three months each. Hue will have to serve 39 months in prison.
Physical Health History
On October 25, 2019, lawyer Le Dinh Viet was able to meet with Hue and reported that she lost two kilograms because she was familiar with the food and eating schedule in prison. Luckily, her inmates were supportive and shared their food with her. Hue thanked people for their support and remained positive about her activism.
Resources
Công an bắt giam bà Đặng Thị Huệ sau các cuộc phản đối BOT, Radio Free Asia, October 17, 2019
Công an bắt giam Huệ Như, người mẹ đơn thân chống BOT bẩn, Tieng Dan Newspaper, October 17, 2019
Two Anti-corruption Activists Sentenced After Seven Months Being Arrested, Defend the Defenders, May 9, 2020
May 16, 2024: Abducted and detained for questioning for 24 hours
Former prisoner Dang Thi Hue, who was released in 2023 after serving 39 months in prison for protesting BOT projects in 2019, reported to Project88 that she was “abducted” by Thai Binh provincial security agents on May 16 while she was running errands.
She said the agents were a group of four men and two women, only one of whom was in uniform. She was held in temporary detention for 24 hours without any notice given to her family. The incident was recorded by her neighbor’s security camera.
The anxiety allegedly caused her father to have a heart attack. Luckily, her younger sister, who works at Lam Hoa Hospital in Thai Binh, was able to come home quickly to revive him. Hue was released the next day and told Project88 that she is OK and that her health is good.
Her third-grade son is now very afraid to go outside with his mother for fear of being arrested.
Resources:
PEN America Condemns Harassment of Vietnamese Activist and Online Commentator. PEN America; 2024-10-21.
Profile last updated: 2024-10-26 22:37:01