Vietnam Activist Kidnapped by Police in Nghe An Province
By Defend the Defenders, May 15, 2017
On May 15, authorities in Vietnam’s central province of Nghe An kidnapped activist Hoang Binh, a member of the independent Viet Labor and well-known blogger who has covered news on the Formosa-causing environmental disaster in the central coastal region.
In the morning of Monday, Binh travelled in a car with Catholic priest Nguyen Dinh Thuc from the Song Ngoc parish in Dien Chau district to Vinh city. Their car was stopped by police in Dien Chau district’s center and police violently removed Binh from the car.
Police officers took the activist into a car and drove away.
Binh is in dangerous situation given the fact that torture is still rampant in Vietnam and many residents have been found dead or with severe injuries while in police custody.
Thousands of Catholic followers are gathering in Dien Chau to support Father Thuc and demand immediate and unconditional release of Binh, saying his detention is illegal.
Binh and Bach Hong Quyen are two bloggers who have covered information about the natural disaster caused by the Taiwanese Formosa steel plant as well as local protests against the pollution-causing investor.
On May 12, authorities in the central province of Ha Tinh issued an arrest warranty of Quyen who was accused of “causing public disorders” for his peaceful activities.
Last month, thousands of Catholic followers in Dien Chau tried to sue Formosa steel plant for causing the environmental disaster which caused the deaths of thousands of tons of aquatic species in the 200-km coastline in the central region from Ha Tinh to Thua Thien Hue. Nghe An’s coastline has also been affected by the illegal discharge of toxic industrial waste of Formosa into the central waters. Instead of assisting local residents, authorities of Dien Chau and Nghe An province deployed thousands of police officers, militia and thugs to attack them, causing severe injuries for hundreds of people, including priest Dang Huu Nam.