On March 20, 2014, the people's court of Ham Yen district, Tuyen
Quang province, conducts a quick trial without due process to sentence
two Hmong ethnic persons, Mr. Ly Van Dinh, 51-year-old, and Mr. Duong
Van Tu, 47-year-old, to 15 and 21 months in prison respectively on
charge of "abusing democratic freedoms infringe upon the interests of
the State" under Article 258 of the penal code.
Outside the court house, hundreds or even thousands of Hmong stage a
mass protest calling for the release of the two accused persons but only
meet with brutal suppression from Tuyen Quang police, whose forces
deploy the use of pepper spray and high voltage stun gun to attack
peaceful protesters including women and the elderly. At least four
people are seriously beaten and taken away by police and a few dozen
protesters are badly wounded.
Ms. Lý Thị Pènh (born 1983) was unconscious after beaten by polices
In a separate incident, 25-year-old blogger Trinh Anh Tuan was brutally
assaulted by at least three plainclothes police after attending a
discussion about freedom of movement hosted by the Network of Vietnamese
Bloggers.
(Image: Facebook Bạch Hồng Quyền)
