Vietnam Free Expression Newsletter No. 41/2019 – Week of October 7-13
Featured Image: Nguyen Nang Tinh, Source: Nghe Anh Times.
Greetings from The 88 Project! We are bringing you news, analysis, and actions regarding human rights and civil society in Vietnam during the week of October 7-13. After enduring death threats from his cellmates, Nguyen Ngoc Anh was viciously attacked in prison and then put into solitary confinement. And Huynh Truong Ca is now on hunger strike to protest the denial of medical treatment for his multiple diseases. Authorities have announced that they will try Facebooker and musician Nguyen Nang Tinh on October 17. Authorities have also recommended human rights lawyer Tran Vu Hai for prosecution for “tax evasion.” Hai had petitioned to represent Truong Duy Nhat on his charge of “abuse of position and power,” but the request was denied, and Nhat’s new lawyer, Dang Dinh Manh, has expressed worries about the authorities complicating Man’s efforts to defend his client. Plainclothes police physically assaulted a group of Hoa Hao Buddhists belonging to an unrecognized branch of the religion while they were heading to protest the demolition of their temple this week. And public security officers detained and questioned three activists at a seminar on the East Sea. In the news, read about the discussions over labor code changes in Vietnam. In case you missed it, we released the trailer of our interview with teacher and activist Dao Thu Hue. Take action for Facebooker Nguyen Quoc Duc Vuong, who was arrested in late September, by sharing Human Rights Watch’s statement calling for his release.
HUMAN RIGHTS & CIVIL SOCIETY

Anh revealed that the detention center ignored his requests for change rooms.
Anh wrote a complaint to report his cellmate’s illegal actions, as well as a request for medical treatment to see if any of his limbs were broken. In response, the detention medial center just quickly checked up and concluded that he got osteoarthritis pain. However, it was so painful that Anh was unable to eat and sleep. Despite his health condition, a senior detention official advised him to accept the reality and comply with the detention regulations.



- A Tach, Montagnard Christian activist, arrested October 11, 2012, sentenced to 11 years in prison

- Tran Thi Xuan, birthday October 10, Catholic social activist and member of the Brotherhood for Democracy, sentenced to nine years in prison

- Pham Van Troi, birthday October 10, writer and member of the Brotherhood for Democracy, sentenced to seven years in prison

- Le Minh The, online activist, arrested October 10, 2018, sentenced to two years in prison
On October 6, public security officers questioned three activists, who are members of the unrecognized Chan Hung TV – Revive Vietnam Television (CHTV) media group. They were detained during a workshop on the East Sea. Le Dung Vova, Tran Thi My Linh (Cat Linh), and Anton Tuan were all detained and interrogated about their journalism activities; their equipment was also confiscated. They were released later in the evening. The detentions came as tensions around Chinese maritime activity in Vanguard Bank continue to rise.
NEWS & ANALYSIS
Vietnam a lonely island of resistance to China, Richard Javad Heydarian, Asia Times, October 10, 2019: “There are rising voices, usually stifled in Vietnam’s closed and authoritarian political system, calling for greater internationalization of the nation’s disputes with China. A group of Vietnamese experts suggested this week that Vietnam should sue China for violating its sovereignty under international law at The Hague, a move that would raise the diplomatic ante on the Vanguard Bank and other contested features.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

TAKE ACTION

A profile picture on Vuong’s Facebook with a caption that calls for the release of political prisoner Tran Huynh Duy Thuc. Source: Facebook Vuong Nguyen
Take action with Human Rights Watch (HRW) for Nguyen Quoc Duc Vuong, a businessman and Facebooker who was arrested in late September. Share this statement, urging authorities to free him and drop the charges against him. HRW notes that “Nguyen Quoc Duc Vuong has expressed views supporting democracy in Vietnam and criticized the Communist Party of Vietnam for corruption and monopolizing power,” and that none of his posts incite violence.