Huynh Ngoc Chenh

On July 12, 2019, Huynh Ngoc Chenh and 19 family members and supporters of political prisoners were physically attacked by thugs who they believed to be plain-clothes prison officers and public security officers. Activist Trinh Ba Phuong, son of former political prisoner Can Thi Theu, told VOA Vietnamese that the group was on its way to Prison No. 6 with some posters solely to visit and support prisoners such as Truong Minh Duc, who were on hunger strike at the time. When the visitors group tried to approach Camp 6 by car, a truck seemed to purposely park to block the road, so they decided to walk the rest of the way. This is where the attack took place. Activists Trinh Ba Khiem, Nguyen Thuy Hanh and Huynh Ngoc Chenh were not only physically assaulted, but their belongings-- including money, phones, and personal documents-- were taken by the attackers.

After the attack, the group was forced to go back to the main road and was escorted to Vinh city, unable to complete the visit.

On January 9, 2020, a massive police force stormed into Dong Tam commune and violently assaulted and detained citizens, as well as killed community leader Le Dinh Kinh. The area is home to a longstanding land conflict. In the aftermath of the raid, authorities targeted local activists who reported on the incident and advocated for affected locals. 

Huynn Ngoc Chenh and his wife Nguyen Thuy Hanh have been under surveillance and were also prohibited from leaving their home to attend Le Dinh Kinh’s funeral.

Huynh Ngoc Chenh’s Facebook account has been constantly attacked using the community standards mechanism of Facebook. Since April, Facebook suspended his account for an entire month just because of the posts concerning the arrest of his wife, Nguyen Thuy Hanh. Recently, his account was suspended for another month with no reason given. 

The incidents happened in the context that Facebook agreed to become involved more in the censorship efforts of the Vietnamese government.