Vietnamese police arrested a citizen for suspected links to a self-proclaimed government in exile ahead of Monday’s National Day, the latest crackdown on those who support the group.
Police in Nam Dinh province arrested Pham Hoang, 66, on Aug. 29 for planning to distribute leaflets on the 79th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s declaration of independence from French colonial rule, according to the People’s Police newspaper.
They accused him of supporting the banned Provisional National Government of Vietnam, led by U.S.-based activist Dao Minh Quan.
The group was founded in the U.S. in 1991 by soldiers and refugees loyal to the government that ruled South Vietnam before the country was unified under communism in 1975.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security listed the Provisional National Government of Vietnam as a terrorist organization in 2018. Since then, more than 60 people have been convicted and jailed for long terms for being members, according to Radio Free Asia data.
Police accused Hoang of contacting the group via Facebook in 2019, filling out an application form and being accepted as a member.
They seized documents and money for him, which they said were related to Hoang’s “criminal acts.”
Investigators said Hoang posted videos and articles on social media rejecting communism and promoting the work of the government-in-exile.
They said he was asked many times to leave the group but refused.
Separately, on Sept. 3, police in Hau Giang province arrested Vuong Van Hong Nam, 61, on charges of subversion. They said he was an active member of the same group, with the aim of overthrowing the government.
According to Public Security News, he learned about the group through social media in 2015, and created many online accounts to communicate with members before joining.
Police repeatedly asked Nam to leave the group but he refused, the paper said.
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In April this year, a court in Gia Lai province sentenced 10 people to prison for participating in activities of the government-in-exile.
In June, a court in Tien Giang province sentenced two people to prison for attempting to overthrow the government. They were also accused of participating in Dao Minh Quan’s exile organization.
Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.
This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by By RFA Vietnamese.