Luong Tu Tuan (Thai Hao)
Thái Hạo
Detainment Type: At risk
Other Names: Thái Hạo, Lường Tú Tuấn
Date of Birth:
Gender: M
Ethnicity: Kinh
Occupation: Retired, Author
Activist Focus:
- Academic freedom
Organizational/Political Party Affiliation:
Details
Background
Thai Hao studied in Hue and worked as a teacher at the Binh Long High School in Binh Phuoc before retiring and returning to his hometown in Thanh Hoa.
Profile photo source: Thai Hao's Facebook Profile
History of ActivismThai Hao has not been known as an activist per se. He is better known as an educator and poet. He has occasionally appeared in state media talking about educational reform and literary criticism. However, these are sanctioned speeches and not critical of the regime.
One of his interviews was published in February.
Hao was only targeted after he became involved in some activities with Van Viet (Viet Literature) - an independent cultural association that is not under the control of the State. At present, we know that Thai Hao started to contribute to Van Viet occasionally starting in February 2021 (including opinion pieces and poems). However, there is no known incident of the public security harassing him for this.
March 2, 2022: assaulted for participating in an independent cultural event
According to Hao on his Facebook page, on the morning of March 2, 2022, he was on his way to Tho Xuan Airport to take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Before that, Hao had been warned by several local security officers that he should not go to the awards ceremony of Van Viet (Viet Literature) in Ho Chi Minh City. Hao believed that this was just a reunion with his friends, colleagues and former mentors, so he decided to go, despite the warnings. A representative from Van Viet also told RFA that the ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City had been canceled due to pressure from the local authorities.
However, after leaving his house and driving only one km away, traffic police and a security officer stopped Hao for a “security check.” Right after Hao stepped out from his car, two plainclothes persons ran toward him and repeatedly punched him. After several minutes trying to evade them and understand what happened, Hao called out to the uniformed officers: “Why did no public security officer help me when I was being assaulted for no reason?” Only after a while, did the uniformed officers intervene. However, the two unknown persons faced no repercussions and continued to curse and threaten Hao on the other side of the road.
Thirty minutes later, the plainclothes individuals left, and the traffic police discovered that Hao did not have his driver’s license with him and so they accused him of driving under the influence of alcohol. Hao was then escorted back to a Public Security office. After three hours, he was released but had already missed his flight.
No one answered his questions about the assault.
Viet Literature later issued an official statement condemning the actions of the public security officers as a violation of freedom of thought.
Profile last updated: 2024-06-13 20:34:07