Vietnam’s Crackdown on Dissent Continues With “Propaganda” Charge Against Activist.

Activist Charged With “Propaganda” Bui Tuan Lam Faces 12 Years in Prison for Criticizing Government Online

The Vietnamese government is set to put Bui Tuan Lam, a renowned activist and pro-democracy advocate, on trial on May 25, 2023. Lam is facing charges of “propaganda against the state” for exercising his right to free speech, particularly his criticism of the government. If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison under article 117(1) of the penal code.

Bui Tuan Lam has been a vocal advocate for democracy and human rights in Vietnam for over a decade. He has long voiced his desire for human rights to become universal in his homeland and has participated in various anti-China and pro-environment protests. He was well-known for a parody video he made in November 2021, imitating the celebrity chef Salt Bae, where he spread green onion on noodle soup and spoon-fed it to Vietnam‘s public security minister during his visit to the global climate change conference in London. Shortly thereafter, he was summoned and interrogated several times by the police, and his noodle shop was temporarily closed down.

Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, stated that the Vietnamese government deems anything critical of the government as “propaganda against the state” in their bid to crackdown on activists and dissidents. He called for the Vietnamese government to abolish the draconian article 117 of the penal code and to drop the charges against Bui Tuan Lam and others who criticize the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam.

History of Harassment and Persecution

Unfortunately, Bui Tuan Lam’s harassment and persecution by the authorities did not stop there. In April 2020, the Da Nang police harassed and threatened him for providing food relief to local people during the Covid-19 pandemic. And in April 2014, when Bui Tuan Lam was returning from visiting the house of the former political prisoner Huynh Ngoc Tuan, men in civilian clothes assaulted and beat him brutally.

Despite the harassment and threats, Bui Tuan Lam has continued to voice his support for fellow activists, political prisoners, and their families, even when it meant putting his own safety at risk. His activism led to his detainment at the airport in 2014, where he was interrogated for hours and had his passport confiscated. Since then, he has not been allowed to leave Vietnam, and the authorities have frequently harassed and threatened him for his activities.

Attempt to Stifle Online Criticism

The indictment against Bui Tuan Lam accused him of publishing Facebook posts and videos that “affect the confidence of the people about the state’s leadership.” The indictment includes some of his shared posts about the detention of prominent human rights blogger Pham Doan Trang, who published books criticizing the government, among other charges.

The indictment also listed five recorded songs, including “Return to the People” and “Where is my Vietnam?” by former political prisoner Viet Khang, and an anti-war song, “Mother’s Legacy,” written by Vietnam’s most beloved song composer Trinh Cong Son. The authorities are extending their efforts to stifle online criticism beyond words to the extent of controlling music that opposes state policies.

The long list of posts and videos listed as “evidence” against Bui Tuan Lam shows the extreme lengths to which the Vietnamese government will go to block any form of online criticism of its policies, as noted by Phil Robertson. The authorities’ move further highlights their intolerance of dissent and commitment to silencing voices of pro-democracy campaigners in the country.

Final Thoughts

The persecution of Bui Tuan Lam is just one of the many instances of the Vietnamese government’s long-standing repression of its citizens’ rights to free expression, association and assembly. Life for pro-democracy activists in Vietnam is never easy, and the government’s increasing use of draconian laws to stifle voices it does not like belies its rhetoric about progress and reform.

The Vietnamese government must recognize that free speech and constructive criticism are essential components of any functioning and democratic society. The authorities must stop their ongoing persecution of activists, drop politically motivated charges against people like Bui Tuan Lam, and abolish its use of the “propaganda against the state” charge. It is high time for the Vietnamese government to embrace transparency, true democracy, and human rights principles, which would foster a climate of trust and understanding between the government and its citizens. It is also essential for the international community, including non-state actors, to raise their voices against this repression, to safeguard the space for activism in Vietnam and elsewhere.

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