Do The Hoa
Current Status: Sentenced to prison
Other Names: Bang Lĩnh, Đỗ Thế Hóa
Date of Birth:
Gender: M
Ethnicity: Kinh
Last Known Prison: An Phuoc detention center, Binh Duong province
Areas of Activism:
- Anti-corruption
- Environment
- Freedom of expression
- Human rights
- Sovereignty
Known Affiliations:
Highlighted Human Rights Concerns:
- Prolonged Incommunicado Detention
- Denial of Family Visit/Punitive Prison Transfer
November 2020:
Four members of the Hien Phap (Constitution) group were transferred to An Phuoc Prison in Binh Duong on November 23. They are: Do The Hoa, Tran Thanh Phuong, Hoang Thi Thu Vang, and Doan Thi Hong. Phuong was able to call his wife on that day, and he reported that he is suffering from high blood pressure.
Details - Background, History of Activism, Contact Information.
Hoa lived in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City prior to arrest.
Profile photo source: Facebook Bang Lĩnh
Hoa was said to participate in the national demonstrations against the bills of law on Special Economic Zones and Cybersecurity on June 10, 2018.
He is also a member of Hien Phap (Constitution) group, established on June 16, 2017, with the aim to promote peoples’ understanding of their human rights in the Constitution.
Hoa and other members planned to call for a peaceful demonstration on September 4, 2018 to raise their voices on social issues, including human rights violations, corruption, territorial disputes, and environmental pollution. However, many Hien Phap members, including Hoa, were arrested prior to the scheduled demonstration.
Facebook Bang Lĩnh
CSVN giam giữ 8 thành viên nhóm ‘Hiến Pháp’ vận động đợt biểu tình tháng 6, Saigon Broadcasting Television Network, September 27, 2018
9 người thuộc nhóm Hiến Pháp bị an ninh bắt vào đầu tháng 9, Radio Free Asia, September 28, 2018
Arrested September 1, 2018. Sentenced to 5 years in prison and 2 years probation under Art. 118 (2015 Code). Expected Release is September 1, 2023.
September 1, 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
5 years in prison and 2 years probation
September 1, 2023
- 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
Hoa was arrested on September 1, three days prior to the scheduled demonstration of the Hien Phap group, and he was detained at police station, no. 4. Phan Dang Luu Street, Binh Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh city.
Eleven months after his arrest, Hoa was finally allowed to meet his family on August 2, 2019, for around 20 minutes. Due to being detained incommunicado, with inadequate light, Hoa looked pale and seemed to be suffering from swelling.
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 have previously postponed the trial twice. The group of eight defendants includes Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh, Hoang Thi Thu Vang, Do The Hoa, Ho Dinh Cuong, Tran Thanh Phuong, Ngo Van Dung, Doan Thi Hong and Le Quy Loc.
July 2020:
After several postponements, 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.
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.”
CSVN giam giữ 8 thành viên nhóm ‘Hiến Pháp’ vận động đợt biểu tình tháng 6, Saigon Broadcasting Television Network, September 27, 2018
9 người thuộc nhóm Hiến Pháp bị an ninh bắt vào đầu tháng 9, Radio Free Asia, September 28, 2018
Bắt cóc dân rồi biệt giam, người vợ đã khụy ngã khi C.A cho gặp lại chồng với thân thể tiều tụy, suy nhược, Nha Nam Media, August 6, 2019
Eight Vietnamese Democracy Activists Given Long Terms in Prison, Radio Free Asia, July 31, 2020
Eight Members of Constitution Group Convicted, Sentenced to Total 40.5 Years in Prison and 20 Years of Probation, Defend the Defenders, July 31, 2020
Profile last updated: 2020-12-08 17:32:09