Police target jailed Vietnamese activists’ wives
Police use summons and fines for far-fetched reasons in order to end wives’ support for their husbands jailed for “propaganda against the state”.
Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – While Vietnamese activists Bui Van Thuan and Bui Tuan Lam are serving extremely long prison sentences, their wives face constant harassment from the authorities.
Trinh Thi Nhung, Bui Van Thuan's wife, said she was questioned by police in Thanh Hoa province about a Facebook account that used her husband's photo as its profile picture.
Thuan was arrested in late August 2021 for a series of social media posts in which he described rows among Vietnam's officials as "dog fighting”. For this reason, he was sentenced eight years in prison for "propaganda against the state".
On 16 February, his wife Nhung and their young children were summoned to a police station without explanation.
On arriving, she was told that they had discovered a Facebook account with an avatar similar to her husband and accused her of using it to write falsehoods about the government, which could result in her conviction under Article 331 of the criminal law for “abusing democratic freedoms.”
“I hope that in the future I will not be summoned for reasons that are not convincing enough,” she said. “If this happens again, I will not go.”
If that was not enough, various strangers, probably police officers, have been waiting for her outside her house day and night, and following her every time she went out.
Bui Tuan Lam, known as "Onion Bae", became known for making a satirical video in which he imitated a famous chef while poking fun at Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security. As a result, he was arrested on 7 September 2022 on charges of "propaganda against the state".
Last year, Bui was sentenced to five years and six months, which he is serving in Xuan Loc Prison.
In order to raise three young children and provide supplies for her husband, his wife Le Thanh Lam sells food products with the slogan "Supporting Bui Tuan Lam" printed on the labels.
For this reason, earlier this month, police in Da Nang City and officials at the market where she sells seized all her products, accusing her of "selling contraband goods without invoices". On Monday, she was also fined for such a "crime."
“I have three small children and support my husband in prison and I run a small business to scrape together every penny,” she wrote on a social media platform.
“The dishes I sell are just snacks, regional specialties of farmers, dishes made by the hands of determined people.
“I make money from honest sweat and effort like any other woman would do for her family, her husband, and her children. However, they won't leave me alone.”
Photo: Bui Van Thuan and Bui Tuan Lam before their arrest.
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