Farmers have hopelessly defended their land at gunpoint while
angushingly watching brick walls and developing houses increasingly
mushroomed on their lost land; the rice field they used to see is gone
forever.
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Giang is one of the victims of this land robbery. In
these days, she has continued to carry incense and offerings to her lost
piece of land to pray. Ha Van Son, the ward police chief, has
repeatedly ordered his troops to confiscate Mrs. Nguyen’s offerings and
throw them away. On March 30, Mrs. Nguyen did it again and was almost
killed for doing it. While she was praying, a bare breast thug known as
Nguyen Dinh Thuc, who is reportedly hired to intimidate farmers, carried
a big stick, rushed at Mrs. Nguyen and hit her very hard on the head;
blood immediately streamed down on her skinny face; the thug was free to
walk away leaving behind his badly wounded victim who could only get a
first aid from her neighbors.
The brutal attack was captured on a video clip which is shared on
YouTube. Apparently, the regime-hired security guards shown in the clip
make believe that they are trying to stop the bare breast thug from
attacking the poor woman; however, they actually help the guy to get the
job done and secure him after the attack.
Duong Noi has been a hot spot of farmer resisting to illegal land grabs.
The local authorities have made sweet deals with developers on farm
lands and not hesitated to use force. In one village of Duong Noi,
farmers have set up tents to guard and protect their land in the past
few years. In recent days, police abducted 2 farmers, Mr. Tran Van Mien
and Mr. Tran Van Sang, and farmers have heard that the two committed
suicide in prison. Seeking truth and justice, on the evening of March
28, 2014, farmers staged a sizable protest at Ha Dong police station,
where the victims are believed to be held, to demand their release or,
at least, the right to visit them in prison and to know their detention
status. Ha Dong police have turned down the requests from farmers and
sent corps to beat protesters.
The tension has lasted for three days. Despite of police willing to
crack down on protesters, farmers still remain steadfast on their
struggle to seek justice and the release of their loved ones.
Their courage and endless sacrifices, alone, are not enough to bring an
end to their tragedy. Human rights defenders worldwide please do not
forget the victims of prejudice in Vietnam today.
Farmers staged a protest at Ha Dong police station on March 18, 2014, demanding the release of Mr. Tran Van Sang and Mr. Tran Van Mien.
Translate by Nhu Ngoc
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