Tran Thi Thao
Current Status: At risk
Other Names: Trần Thị Thảo
Date of Birth: December 27, 1952
Gender: F
Ethnicity: Kinh
Occupation: Retired
Areas of Activism:
- Democracy
- Environment
- Freedom of expression
- Human rights
- Sovereignty
Details - Background, History of Activism, Contact Information.
Tran Thi Thao used to be a lecturer at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology.
Profile photo source: Facebook Tran Thi Thao
Since 2015, Thao has been continuously harassed and surveilled by the authorities due to her activism on issues such as the environment, democracy, and human rights. The public security of Hanoi kept her under surveillance regularly and would not allow her to go out either to buy food or to take her daughter to school.
The first incident happened in March 2015 after Thao joined a demonstration protesting against Hanoi’s plan to cut down trees, as well as sovereignty issues. In 2016, she was placed under surveillance, especially during May, and she was arrested and beaten in the police station of Bach Khoa District on September 20, the day that land rights activist Can Thi Theu’s trial was held.
On January 19, 2017, she, along with blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh, activist Vu Quang Thuan, and dozens of other activists, was arrested and detained for hours at the People’s Committee of Bac Khoa District. They were gathering to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of the loss of the Hoang Sa (Paracels) islands to China, with the sacrifice of 75 naval soldiers of the Republic of Vietnam. In the months of January, February, March, April, July, and November, the public security of Ha Noi kept her under surveillance for many days. The final incident of 2017 was on December 22, when Tran Thi Nga was tried in Ha Nam Province. The public security of Phu Ly City detained Thao from the morning until 20:00 PM.
In 2018, Thao was surveilled for at least 26 days, whenever there was any national or special event. As of May 2019, public security had also surveilled her for 11 days in 2019.
Vietnam Suppresses Anti-China Demonstrations on 43rd Anniversary of Paracels Loss, Detaining Dozens of Activists, Defend the Defenders, January 19, 2017
October 1, 2019: put under house arrest on China’s National Day
- Surveillance
- Travel restriction
October 1, 2019
Public security
Her private house in Ha Ba Trung Ward, Ha Noi (map)
- freedom of peaceful assembly
- freedom of movement
- respect of privacy, family, home, and correspondence
On China’s National Day, several activists were watched at home, followed while in public, and even forced to return home, probably in an attempt to quell public demonstrations. Meanwhile, the authorities also mobilized a powerful security force to surround and protect China’s Embassy in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang City.
Tran Thi Thao, who has been suffering from prolonged harassment, was not an exception. On October 1, 2019, two public security officers in plain clothes and one local civil defense officer started surveilling her house in the very early morning, at around 6:00 AM. They blocked her way, prevented her from going to the market, and only left in the afternoon. According to her report to Radio Free Asia on October 1, they restricted her movement for two days, and she had to wait for them to leave to go out and buy food for her family.
Facebook Tran Thi Thao Status 1
Facebook Tran Thi Thao Status 2
Facebook Tran Thi Thao Status 3
Hundreds of Government Critics Held under House Arrest When China Marks 70th Anniversary of Independence, Defend the Defenders, October 1, 2019
Giới xã hội dân sự ở Hà Nội cáo buộc ‘bị canh nhà’ nhân Quốc khánh Trung Quốc, Radio Free Asia, October 1, 2019
Vietnam Free Expression Newsletter No. 40/2019 – Week of September 30 – October 6, The 88 Project, October 7, 2019
Profile last updated: 2019-12-26 19:39:26