Lam Dong Court sentenced YouTuber Duong Tuan Ngoc to 7 years in prison

On April 24, a court in Lam Dong sentenced Mr. Duong Tuan Ngoc to 7 years in prison and 3 years of probation for “propaganda against the state”, because he was accused by the authorities of having “slandered” the regime. and “insulting” the leader.

State-owned online newspapers cited the indictment reporting that from 2012 to July 2023, Mr. Duong Tuan Ngoc created 106 articles and 37 video clips “with false content, distorting the actual situation, distort, defame the people’s government, and defame the Socialist regime” in Vietnam.

In addition, the Trial Council also said that Mr. Ngoc “attacked the guidelines and policies of the Party and State in the fields of politics, economics, and society; distorting history; defame or insult leader Ho Chi Minh or defame senior party leaders.”

Authorities said that his actions were “of a very serious and dangerous nature and level to society, violated national security, and adversely affected the political security and order situation.” social security”.

The People’s Public Security page of the Ministry of Public Security said that Mr. Ngoc, who was arrested in July 2023, “admitted” in court to all his violations of the law, and “expressed his remorse, repent”.

“This is yet another case of the Vietnamese government punishing a government critic who did nothing more than exercise his basic right to freedom of expression,” Ms. Patricia Gossman, Deputy Director and Senior Editor, Asia Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW), commented to VOA about Mr. Ngoc’s sentence.

“The Vietnamese government should release Mr. Duong Tuan Ngoc and stop using Article 117 of the Penal Code to arrest those calling for reform,” Ms. Gossman called for.

VOA contacted Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked them to comment on HRW’s above statement, but has not received a response.

The Vietnamese government on various occasions has often denied accusations of human rights violations, insisted that citizens’ rights are always guaranteed, and only detained and tried those who “violated the law.” .