Y Wo Nie
Current Status: Sentenced to prison
Other Names: Y Wô Niê, Ama Quynh
Date of Birth: 1970
Gender: M
Religion: Christian
Ethnicity: Montagnard (Ede)
Occupation: Farmer
Areas of Activism:
- Indigenous rights
- Religious freedom
Communities At Risk:
Details
Immediate Concerns
November 2023
The Vietnam Human Rights Network has named three winners for their 2023 Human Rights Award. They are political prisoners Tran Van Bang, Y Wo Nie, and Le Trong Hung.
August 2023
On August 16, Pastor Y Wo Nie had his five-year prison sentence upheld by an appeals court in Dak Lak Province. No government judicial expert or witnesses were present for the hearing. Nie’s family members were not allowed in the courtroom, so they and about a hundred Ede supporters stood in the courtyard.
He did not have a lawyer in the first trial but had counsel at the appeal hearing.
BackgroundY Wo Nie lives and works in Puk Prong Commune, Ea Ning Ward, Cu Kuin District, Dak Lak Province.
Profile photo-- Y Wo Nie at the Public Security office; Source
History of ActivismAccording to official information of the People’s Court of Cu Kuin District, Y Wo Nie was previously arrested and sentenced to nine years in prison for sabotaging the “unity policy” of the State (this incident allegedly happened in 2005; Y Wo Nie was accused of participating in protests and operating an illegal border-crossing operation for local minority people).
Family SituationHe is married and has two children.
Sentenced to 4 years in prison under Art. 331 (2015 Code). Expected Release is September 20, 2025.
September 20, 2021
- Art. 331 (2015 Code)
Cu Kuin district public security, Dak Lak province
Cu Kuin District (map)
May 20, 2022 - Date of trial
The People’s Court of Cu Kuin District, Dak Lak province
Nguyen Van Mieng
4 years in prison
September 20, 2025
Details of Imprisonment
The Public Security of Cu Kuin District arrested Y Wo Nie on September 20, 2021. The accusation at the time was that Nie had exploited democratic rights to infringe on the rights and legitimacy of the Vietnamese government under Article 331.
The district court further claimed that Y Wo Nie was invited to meet representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam. Nie then participated in several online workshops on religious beliefs and protection, Vietnam’s civil law, international human rights law and methods on gathering data and report writing offered by “reactionary individuals.” Under reasonable standards of international law, those topics are not considered reactionary.
Nevertheless, the procuracy also alleged that Nie had used the WhatsApp account name “Jing” to publish content, articles and pictures that distort and libel the policies and the images of both local and national authorities in order to provoke and threaten national security and social safety.
They also claimed that Y Wo Nie had written three reports and sent them to “reactionary forces” via WhatsApp. The first report is titled “On the religious and human rights conditions of the Ede ethnic in the Central Highlands.” The second report had no official title, but was sent to the UN Human Right Council and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. The final report was titled “On religious freedom in Vietnam, and for Montagnard people specifically.”
On May 22, 2022, Nie was sentenced to four years in prison.
ResourcesXử phạt nghiêm chín bị cáo về tội "phá hoại chính sách đoàn kết dân tộc, Nhan dan, July 4, 2005
Khởi tố đối tượng xâm phạm, chống phá nhà nước, Bao Nguoi lao động, September 20, 2021
Khởi tố đối tượng chuyển nhiều tài liệu xuyên tạc, chống phá Đảng, Nhà nước, Bao Lao dong, September 20, 2021
Bắt tạm giam đối tượng lợi dụng tự do dân chủ để chống phá Đảng, Nhà nước, Bao Dak Lak Dien tu, September 20, 2021
Sử dụng mạng xã hội xâm phạm lợi ích của Nhà nước, Cong ly, May 20, 2022
The attorney's announcement after Y Wo Nie's trial, June 01, 2022
Facebook post about appeal trial from Nguyen Van Mieng
Vietnamese minority activist to appeal four-year sentence on Aug. 16, Radio Free Asia, August 9, 2022
Vietnam courts reject appeals by two prominent activists, Radio Free Asia, August 17, 2022
Profile last updated: 2024-06-13 20:34:07