Hoang Duc Binh was arrested on May 15 (Photo: Nghe An police) Binh’s arrest wasmade under a warrant issued by the Investigation Police under the provincialPublic Security Department on May 11 and approved by the Nghe An People’sProcuracy on May 13.
He was chargedwith resisting on-duty officials and abusing democratic rights and freedom toinfringe on the State interests and the legitimate rights of organizations, citizens under Articles 257and 258 of the Penal Code.
According to Nghe An authorities, during the time Binhlived in Ho Chi Minh City, he joined a number of hostile political orgaisationssuch as “NoU Saigon”, “Phong trao Lao dong Viet” (Vietnam Workers’ Movement).
On December 12, 2015, Binh was arrested and detained for24 hours for scattering leaflets inciting people to join “Nghiep doan doc lap”(independence league). He was also fined million VND for his violation ofregulations on keeping and distributing illegal publications and printedmaterials that are not publications. However, he refused to pay the fine and fledto Nghe An.
After returning to Nghe An, Binh regularly posted toFacebook information slandering the administration and advocating pluralism andmulti-party movements.
After the environmental incident caused by Formosa companyin four central localities, Binh, as the Vice President of the “Phong trao Lao dongViet”, formed a “fishermen’s association of central region” and called on Catholicsand fishermen to join the association.
On April 2, 2017, Binh and Bach Hong Quyen, a resident ofAn Do commune, Binh Luc district, the northern province of Ha Nam, incitedCatholics in Trung Nghia Parish in Thach Bang commune, Loc Ha district of HaTinh province to surround and attack a patrol team of the public security forcesof Loc Ha district and Thach Bang commune, injuring one officer.
The crowd also surrounded and destroyed property at thehouse of the head of Thach Bang public security force, and then marched to theheadquarters of the district People’s Committee and Public Security force,causing social disorder.
After Binh was arrested, priest Nguyen Dinh Thuc in NgheAn’s Dien Chau district incited local Catholics to gather with the aim ofputting pressure on the government and public security forces for the releaseof Binh.
Some Catholics, at the instruction of priest Hoang DinhThuc, gathered on National Highway 1A, blocking the traffic for about fivehours. The same day, at 13:00, some elements provoked local Catholics toillegally capture four officials of mass organisations who were persuading thecrowd not to cause social disorder and traffic congestion.
Furthermore, at 15:30 of May 15, priest Nguyen Dinh Thucled a crowd of Catholics to the headquarters of Dien Chau district publicsecurity department to demand the release of Hoang Duc Binh. At 16:00,provincial police dissolved the crowd and cleared up the road for traffic.
Nghe An authorities affirmed that the causing of trafficcongestion and illegal seizing of officials are serious law violations thatmust be strictly punished.
Local authorities said they had received the coordinationof the Vinh Diocese Office, many local priests and Catholics in Nghe An andmany districts in persuading priest Nguyen Dinh Thuc and the incited Catholicfollowers.-VNA
VNA
