URGENT ACTION: CRACKDOWN ON FORMOSA SPILL ACTIVISTS CONTINUES
The Vietnamese authorities are continuing to crackdown on activists who have raised concerns about the 2016 Formosa environmental disaster and its aftermath. On 12 May 2017, an arrest warrant was issued for activist Bạch Hồng Quyền, who is now in hiding, while human rights defender and blogger Hoàng Đức Bình has been detained since 15 May 2017. Other activists are also facing harassment and intimidation, and are at risk of arrest.
On the morning of 15 May, human rights defender and blogger Hoàng Đức Bình was arrested by the authorities in Nghệ An, a province in north-central Viet Nam. He has been charged with "resisting persons in the performance of their official duties" under article 257 of Viet Nam’s 1999 Penal Code, and "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and/or citizens" under article 258. Under each charge Hoàng Đức Bình faces a possible sentence of between six months' and seven years' imprisonment.
Hoàng Đức Bình, Vice Chairman of the independent Viet Labor Movement, has been blogging about and assisting those affected by the Formosa environmental disaster which occurred in April 2016, severely affecting fish stocks in multiple Vietnamese provinces. He was travelling with a Catholic priest, Father Nguyễn Đình Thục, at the time of his arrest and was reportedly forced to sign a confession statement by the authorities after being detained in Diễn Châu district of Nghệ An province. It is not known exactly where he is being held. Father Nguyễn Đình Thục, who has also been active in supporting those affected by the environmental crisis, has also faced threats and intimidation for his activities, and is at risk of arrest.
Another Vietnamese activist blogger, Bạch Hồng Quyền, who is a member of the Vietnam Path Movement, a peaceful reform group not sanctioned by the authorities, is also being pursued by the authorities after a warrant was issued for his arrest on 12 May. He is currently in hiding and faces charges of "causing public disorder" for his alleged role in organizing a demonstration on 3 April calling for accountability and transparency in relation to the Formosa environmental disaster. Both his wife and parents have been visited by the authorities seeking his arrest.
The Vietnamese authorities are continuing to crackdown on activists who have raised concerns about the 2016 Formosa environmental disaster and its aftermath. On 12 May 2017, an arrest warrant was issued for activist Bạch Hồng Quyền, who is now in hiding, while human rights defender and blogger Hoàng Đức Bình has been detained since 15 May 2017. Other activists are also facing harassment and intimidation, and are at risk of arrest.
On the morning of 15 May, human rights defender and blogger Hoàng Đức Bình was arrested by the authorities in Nghệ An, a province in north-central Viet Nam. He has been charged with "resisting persons in the performance of their official duties" under article 257 of Viet Nam’s 1999 Penal Code, and "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and/or citizens" under article 258. Under each charge Hoàng Đức Bình faces a possible sentence of between six months' and seven years' imprisonment.
Hoàng Đức Bình, Vice Chairman of the independent Viet Labor Movement, has been blogging about and assisting those affected by the Formosa environmental disaster which occurred in April 2016, severely affecting fish stocks in multiple Vietnamese provinces. He was travelling with a Catholic priest, Father Nguyễn Đình Thục, at the time of his arrest and was reportedly forced to sign a confession statement by the authorities after being detained in Diễn Châu district of Nghệ An province. It is not known exactly where he is being held. Father Nguyễn Đình Thục, who has also been active in supporting those affected by the environmental crisis, has also faced threats and intimidation for his activities, and is at risk of arrest.
Another Vietnamese activist blogger, Bạch Hồng Quyền, who is a member of the Vietnam Path Movement, a peaceful reform group not sanctioned by the authorities, is also being pursued by the authorities after a warrant was issued for his arrest on 12 May. He is currently in hiding and faces charges of "causing public disorder" for his alleged role in organizing a demonstration on 3 April calling for accountability and transparency in relation to the Formosa environmental disaster. Both his wife and parents have been visited by the authorities seeking his arrest.