Viet Nam: Police beatings outside court amid crackdown on activism
Amnesty
International
26
August 2014
The
Vietnamese authorities must stop attacks on peaceful activists, Amnesty
International said today after three human rights defenders were sentenced to
jail and police beat and arrested their supporters.
Women activists Bui Thi Minh Hang and Nguyen Thi Thuy Quynh, along with their
male co-defendant Nguyen Van Minh, were handed between two and three-year jail
terms on charges of "disturbing public order" at Dong Thap Provincial People's
Court in Viet Nam.
Dozens of their supporters, including family members, bloggers and other civil
society activists, were harassed, beaten and arrested to prevent them from
attending the court hearing.
“Today’s verdict appears to be another attempt to punish peaceful activism in
Viet Nam”, said Rupert Abbott, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia-Pacific
Director.
The three activists were attacked and arrested by police along with 18 others in
February 2014 while trying to visit former prisoner of conscience Nguyen Bac
Truyen at his fiance’s home.
“Viet Nam should rein in its police and stop attacks on peaceful activists,
their families and supporters,” said Rupert Abbott.
“All those imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights
should be immediately and unconditionally released.”
Background
Bui Thi Minh Hang is a well-known activist who has taken part in anti-China
protests and attended trials of other peaceful activists. She has been on hunger
strike several times since her arrest and detention in February and is in poor
health.
Nguyen Van Minh is a member of the non-state sanctioned branch of the Hoa Hao
Buddhist church and an activist for religious freedom.
Nguyen Thi Thuy Quynh has also taken part in peaceful anti-China protests and
pro-democracy activities.