(Bangkok) – The Vietnamese authorities should immediately drop all charges and release rights activist Tran Van Bang, Human Rights Watch said today. Ho Chi Minh City police arrested Tran Van Bang on March 1, 2022, and charged him for criticizing the government under article 117 of the penal code. A court is scheduled to hear his case on May 12, 2023. If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison. 'The Vietnamese government has repeatedly rolled out article 117 of the penal code to silence any citizen who dares to use the internet to criticize the government or voice support for human rights and democracy,' said Phil Robertson , deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/05/11/vietnam-free-democracy-campaigner-tran-van-bang

#hrw