Pham Minh Hoang

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

21° 1' 59.9988" N, 105° 50' 60" E

Status: Under Arrest
Arrested on 13 Aug 2010
Campaign Site: http://tudophamminhhoang.wordpress.com/

Pham Minh Hoang, a blogger and lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City Polytechnic Institute was arrested on August 13, 2010 for his blogging on democracy and social justice in Vietnam.Initially, the Vietnamese government detained him quietly but later acknowledged his arrest together with his three other colleagues: Pastor Duong Kim Khai, Ms Tran Thi Thuy and Mr Nguyen Thanh Tam. This was only after these arbitrary arrests were brought to the international attention by their colleagues from Viet Tan, a Vietnamese pro-democracy group.

Currently detained at the Ministry of Public Security Detainment Center at 238 Nguyen Van Cu, District 1, Saigon, Hoang was officially charged on September 29, 2010 under Article 79 of the penal code, which bans “carrying out activities with intent to overthrow the socialist government.” This charge of subversion carries a maximum penalty of capital punishment.

Pham Minh Hoang is a scholar and a patriot concerned for the future of Vietnam’s youths. In addition to his technical expertise, he taught students leadership skills and civic responsibility. He blogs on issues related to environment, corruption and human rights under the penname Phan Kien Quoc. Many of his writings are posted on his personal blog.Currently, he is detained at Ministry of Public Security Detainment Center at 238 Nguyen Van Cu, District 1, Saigon. He is charged with article 79 “attempt to overthrow the socialist government” which can lead to death penalty.

You can help Pham Minh Hoang by signing a petition calling for his and other activists’ release. You can also contact your embassy/consulate in Vietnam asking them to intervene and demand the release of these peaceful activists. For more information, you can visit the Free Pham Minh Hoàng campaign blog or Free Them Now.

On 10 August 2011, Hoang was sentenced to three years in prison, with three additional years of house arrest. He is appealing the decision. On 4 October 2011, a joint statement was issued in his support by ten organizations.

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