Le Thu Van
Lê Thu Vân
Detainment Type: Deceased
Other Names: Lê Thu Vân
Date of Birth: 1957
Gender: F
Religion: Buddhist
Ethnicity: Kinh
Occupation: Religious leader
Activist Focus:
- Religious freedom
Details
Immediate Concerns
August 2024:
Le Thu Van (b.1957), a co-defendant in the Bong Lai Temple case, has died from “a serious illness,” according to state-run media. Van was the mother of three defendants — Le Thanh Hoan Nguyen (1990), Le Thanh Nhat Nguyen (1991), and Le Thanh Nhi Nguyen (1998). She was sentenced to three years in prison for “abusing democratic freedoms,” but due to her illness was allowed to serve her sentence at the temple in order to receive medical care. The highly controversial case centered around 92-year-old Le Tung Van, head of the temple who the government, without publicly presenting evidence, alleged was committing incest. Several lawyers working on the case have had to flee the country. Van passed away on July 28; the circumstances of her death are under police investigation.
Background
Le Thu Van is a nun at the Tinh That Bong Lai Buddhist Monastery, who is suffering from end-stage colon cancer.
Profile photo source: Viet Giai Tri
Note: We've listed the religion in this profile as "Buddhist" due to the activist's self-identification, but we note that the Buddhism practiced in this case is Buu Son Ky Huong, a more informal, cultural interpretation of Buddhist belief.
History of Activism
Le Thu Van lives and practices Buddhism at the Tinh That Bong Lai monastery.
Sentenced to 3 years in prison under Art. 331 (2015 Code). Expected Release is July 28, 2025.
July 28, 2024 - Unknown - death
- Ngo Thi Hoang Anh
- Dao Kim Lan
- Trinh Vinh Phuc
- Dang Dinh Man
- Nguyen Van Mieng
3 years in prison
July 28, 2025
Details of Imprisonment
Le Thu Van is the seventh person from the Tinh That Bong Lai Buddhist Monastery who was wanted by the Long An Province Public Security since May 2022 under the same Article 331 of “abusing democratic freedoms.” She was not at the monastery when the warrant was issued.
On July 27, 2022, Le Thu Van, who is suffering from end-stage colon cancer, went to Lawyer Dang Dinh Manh and asked the Tinh That Bong Lai group’s lawyers to accompany her to a police station, as she was turning herself in on the charge. Manh contacted his ward police and asked them to receive her. He also told them about her critical health condition and her need for medical care.
Originally, Le Thu Van stayed at the monastery, taught the orphans living there, and managed everyday cooking tasks. However, she was also accused of participating in the videos that “abuse” democratic freedoms.
The lawyers and Le Thu Van went to the ward police station early on July 28, 2022. The ward police also informed Long An Province Public Security of her intentions. Long An Public Security then sent a car to pick Le Thu Van up to bring her into custody for paperwork submissions. The Public Security then called people from Tinh That Bong Lai and gave them permission to bring Le Thu Van back to the monastery within the day to take care of her better.
The group of lawyers said that the public security issued a summons to request Le Thu Van to be present at 8:00 a.m. on August 16 at the Duc Hoa District Police headquarters. However, she was too weak to leave the house to work with the police that day. Instead, the police went to the monastery to question her. On the same day, the lawyers sent a petition to the Long An authorities, asking them to suspend their investigation due to Le Thu Van's poor health conditions. "Mrs. Le Thu Van's cancer is in the final stage and her life is only counted in days,” lawyer Dao Kim Lan said.
Currently, Le Thu Van is under house arrest at the monastery. Her co-defendants, Le Tung Van, Le Thanh Nhat Nguyen, Le Thanh Nhi Nguyen, Le Thanh Hoan Nguyen, and Le Thanh Trung Duong and Cao Thi Cuc, on July 21, 2022, were sentenced to a combined 23 years and six months in prison on charges of “abusing democratic freedoms.” The lawyers were able to post bail for head monk Le Tung Van, and helped the group to file an appeal against the sentences.
Physical Health History
Le Thu Van was undergoing late stage cancer treatment at the time of her arrest.
Resources
Hai kịch bản sau phiên tòa Tịnh Thất Bồng Lai: Ông Lê Tùng Vân đang ở đâu sau khi nhận án tù? | BLĐ, Bao Lao Dong, July 25, 2022
Bị can Lê Thu Vân trong vụ 'Tịnh thất Bồng Lai' ra trình diện, Phap Luat Online, July 28, 2022
Lawyer Trinh Vinh Phuc's Facebook post, July 28, 2022
Vụ 'tịnh thất Bồng Lai': Bị can Lê Thu Vân được tại ngoại vì sức khỏe yếu, Tuoi Tre Online, July 28, 2022
Bị can Lê Thu Vân trong vụ 'Tịnh thất Bồng Lai' được tại ngoại, Phap Luat Online, July 29, 2022
Tịnh thất Bồng Lai: Người thứ bảy ra đầu thú khi đang bị ung thư đại tràng thời kỳ cuối, RFA, July 28, 2022
Một bị can vụ Tịnh thất Bồng Lai ra đầu thú, Vietnamnet, July 28, 2022
Lawyers ask for investigation of terminally ill Peng Lei member to be suspended, RFA, August 19, 2022
Bị can Lê Thu Vân trong vụ “Tịnh thất Bồng Lai” tử vong do bệnh hiểm nghèo, Cong an nhan dan, July 28, 2024
Profile last updated: 2024-08-09 16:10:00