Key events:
- Dak Lak Provincial Police Arrest a Montagnard on Charges of ‘Sabotaging the National Unity Policy’
- Y Quynh Bdap Extradition Trial: Correctional Department Says Vietnam’s Prisons ‘Always Respect Prisoner Rights’
- To Lam Concludes Trip to China, Announces a Joint Declaration
Dak Lak Provincial Police Arrest a Montagnard on Charges of ‘Sabotaging National Unity Policy’
The Security Investigation Bureau of Dak Lak Provincial Police announced on Aug. 15 that they had arrested and charged Y Po Mlo, 63, a Montagnard living in the Krong Nang District, on a charge of “sabotaging national unity” under Article 116 of the Penal Code. The police alleged that Mlo had links to several members of the United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races, better known as FULRO, a group consisting of different Central Highlands ethnic insurgencies formed during the Vietnam War.
According to the police, starting from 2023, Y Po Mlo had directly contacted members of various advocacy groups that raise awareness of the Vietnamese government’s repression of indigenous peoples in the Central Highlands, including Montagnards Stand Up for Justice (MSFJ) and the Montagnard Support Group (MSG). Mlo was accused of receiving orders to “oppose the regime” from Y Mut Mlo, an exiled Montagnard who was sentenced to 11 years in absentia due to his alleged involvement in the Dak Lak attack in June 2023. Some 100 people have been accused of launching coordinated gun attacks on two local government offices in Cu Kuin District, which left nine people dead, including four police officers, two local officials, and three civilians.
The Ministry of Public Security classified the MSFJ and MSG as “terrorist organizations” and condemned them for being the organizers of the Dak Lak attack. Both organizations have denied these allegations and emphasized their peaceful and nonviolent activities.
More specifically, the Dak Lak Provincial Police accused Y Po Mlo of receiving instructions from the alleged FULRO members based in Thailand, such as Y Min Alur, Y Thanh Eban, and Y Pher Hdrue, and helping them gather “one-sided, false” information about Vietnam’s repression of the indigenous populations. The police alleged that this information was disseminated overseas to “distort the facts” and “sabotage the national unity policy.” However, in an interview with Radio Free Asia (RFA), Y Min Alur and Y Pher Hdrue denied any connection to FULRO and Y Po Mlo, saying that the government’s accusation is “groundless and ridiculous.”
At the second extradition hearing for the Montagnard activist Y Quynh Bdap on Aug. 19, a correctional department representative from the Ministry of Public Security told the Bangkok Criminal Court that Vietnamese prisons “always respect human rights” and stated that all prisoners were “treated with humanity” and “could receive regular family visitations.”
The assurance is perceived as an attempt to convince the court to approve the extradition of Bdap to Vietnam, where he could face a 10-year sentence on “terrorism” charges due to his alleged involvement in the deadly attack in Dak Lak in June 2023. Bdap denied the allegations, saying he fled to Thailand in 2018 and only adhered to peaceful and nonviolent activism.
The Thai court held the session to hear testimonies from different individuals, including Bdap’s defense witnesses and representatives from the Vietnamese police department. Bdap’s trial has drawn opposition from international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, who have expressed concerns that the 32-year-old activist could be mistreated upon his repatriation to Vietnam.
According to Nadthasiri Bergman, the lawyer for Y Quynh Bdap, a Thai police officer who arrested Bdap said that he made the apprehension under a warrant issued by Thai authorities because the activist had “overstayed his visa.” Bergman added that her client had limited time to defend himself during the trial, although the hearing lasted almost eight hours, from 2:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Montagnard activist is being held in pretrial detention, and subsequent hearings will occur on Aug. 30 and Sept. 2.
To Lam Concludes Trip to China, Announces a Joint Declaration
General Secretary of the Communist Party To Lam concluded his trip to China on Aug. 20. Lam met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other high-profile officials in Beijing, signed 14 cooperation deals, and pledged to bolster bilateral partnerships and party-to-party relations.
When To Lam met with President Xi Jinping on Aug. 19, he said Hanoi always viewed its ties with Beijing as “a top priority” in foreign diplomacy. He also wished bilateral relations to “enter a new era of stable, concrete development.” The Chinese president underscored the importance of Vietnam in Chinese foreign policy and vowed to support the Vietnamese Communist Party’s leadership in promoting and building socialism.
The leaders of both regimes released a 12-point joint statement seeking to consolidate cooperation and exchanges in national defense and security, hailing them as “one of the crucial pillars in the Vietnam-China relationship.” Both sides also agreed to accomplish the initiatives proposed within the framework of a “community of common destiny,” introduced during Xi’s visit to Hanoi last December.
According to Nguyen Khac Giang, an expert on Vietnamese politics, To Lam’s visit was intended to convince Beijing that Vietnam’s foreign policy would not change despite its recent leadership change and political turmoil. Regarding maritime disputes in the South China Sea, Giang said he didn’t expect that to be “a major focus during Lam’s visit unless there was an emergency or a significant incident.”
Quick takes:
The Hoi An City Police Department in Quang Nam Province on Aug. 18 issued a fine of 7.5 million dong ($300) to a local social media user named P.T.B because he posted a photo of himself wearing a police uniform on his personal Facebook account. The Hoi An internet user was fined under Section 1, Article 101 of the Cybersecurity Decree 15/2020, which prohibits “providing and sharing false, distorted information to slander the reputation of other organizations and individuals.” The police department stated that the action had “negatively affected the image of the people’s public security force,” and it encouraged local civilians to report similar incidents to “cleanse the flow of cyberspace information.”
Internet User Fined Under Cybersecurity Decree for ‘Defaming’ a Language School:
The Quang Nam Provincial Police on Aug. 21 fined another internet user 6 million dong under a similar cybersecurity decree for “defaming” the reputation of a local language school on Facebook. According to state media, L.T.T., 25, was disciplined under Cybersecurity Decree 15/2020 for “providing and sharing false, distorted information” to harm the reputation of the Amy English Language Center, a language school in Tam Ky City. The social media user reportedly said that her posting on Facebook resulted from a personal dispute with that language center, and she had removed the post following the police persuasion.
German Commissioner on Human Rights Urges Vietnam to Cease Repression of Critics:
Luise Amtsberg, the German commissioner for Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid, on Aug. 20 called on Vietnam to cease the repression of critical voices following the sentencing of activist and YouTuber Nguyen Chi Tuyen, also known as Anh Chi, to five years in prison. Amtsberg wrote on X that activists like Anh Chi “provided independent information on political issues, such as Russia’s war in Ukraine” and that Hanoi should “stop prosecuting critical voices.” The European Union delegation also released a statement condemning the conviction of Anh Chi, underscoring the importance of freedom of speech for achieving transparency and sustainable development in Vietnam.
The Significance of the Vietnamese Communist Party Chief’s Visit to China
The Diplomat/ Hai Hong Nguyen/ Aug. 20
“In this context, beyond the diplomatic rhetoric of officials from both countries, that To Lam chose China for his first foreign trip just two weeks after becoming the CPV chief, sends at least three messages. First, that Vietnam attaches importance to the party-to-party relationship, considering it a strategic guidance for the development of relations between the two countries.
Second, To Lam wants to affirm that he will continue to inherit the high-level diplomatic legacy of his predecessor with Xi Jinping. Notably, this time, Lam is visiting China in the dual capacity of both general secretary and President, meaning he is in a position completely equivalent to Xi. This is the first time a Vietnamese leader has visited China in both these capacities since the era of Ho Chi Minh.
Third, the visit sends the message that Vietnam is consistent in developing its relations with China, considering it a strategic choice and top priority in its foreign policy. Any concerns about deviation in Vietnam-China relations are therefore unnecessary.”
Will Vietnam Go Down China’s Path?
Fulcrum/ Le Hong Hiep/ Aug. 19
“However, there is little reason to believe that Lam will follow Xi Jinping’s footsteps when it comes to economic and foreign affairs. Currently, the country’s economy is thriving and there is no incentive for Lam to disrupt it. On the contrary, he may aim to further boost the economy in order to strengthen his political legitimacy and justify his leadership. Having spent his whole career in the security sector, Lam lacks experience in economic governance and is unlikely to heavily intervene in that area. He may therefore focus on party affairs and delegate economic matters to the prime minister. Additionally, known as a pragmatist rather than an ideologue, he is unlikely to pursue ideological agendas like President Xi, such as promoting “common prosperity” or cracking down on private entrepreneurs. In fact, Lam has personal ties to private business, with his younger brother being a prominent businessman in the motorbike distribution, real estate, and energy sectors. This may encourage him to be open to economic reforms and friendly to investors.”
Why Should I Mourn the Death of Nguyen Phu Trong?
The Diplomat/ David Hutt/ Aug. 19
“However, when I first heard of [Nguyen Phu] Trong’s death, my thoughts were not with him or his family. Instead, they were with the many Vietnamese people I’ve met over the years who are now in hiding, exile, or prison – or worse – because of the regime he led. I thought of those who won’t marry, won’t have children, won’t be able to see their parents before they die and won’t be able to attend their funerals because they are wasting away in jail cells or forced to live abroad simply for daring to raise their voices against the regime that Trong established to make more power. Indeed, under Trong’s leadership, the CPV became even more repressive and censorious. Human Rights Watch reports that ‘more than 160 political prisoners are currently locked up simply for exercising their basic rights.’”