Nghiên revealed that her house has been surrounded permanently by police, from the day the “We Want to Know” movement began on 2 September 2014.
Last week, one of the plainclothes police had followed her to the hairdresser where he cursed at her with highly offensive language. Furthermore, he even threatened he would take people’s lives, and demolish Nghiên’s house.
This threatening behaviour became more serious last night, on 23 October 2014, when police unlawfully locked off Nghiên’s house from outside the gate. This was discovered upon Nghiên’s nephew arriving home late that night. After a long period, one of the police finally unlocked the gate to allow the nephew entry into the house.
Blogger Phạm Thanh Nghiên called this act a shameful disgrace.
The two police intimidating Phạm Thanh Nghiên and her family
Vengeance on 'We Want To Know'
According to the former prisoner of conscience, police wanted to punitively act against her after she had contributed to the launch of the We Want to Know movement. This movement seeks for the Vietnamese Government to disclose details of the 1990 Chengdu Conference’s content.
Also, this increasing harassment has occurred during the visit of the United State of America Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor from 22 to 26 October 2014.
Phạm Thanh Nghiên was originally to be sentenced to four years imprisonment, and three years house arrest for her human rights and territorial integrality advocacy. She is recently under the government's three year home detention policy.
Nghiên has been prevented many times from seeing a doctor for her health problems. Since her release from jail two years ago, she has been summoned dozens of times to work with police and local government.
Upon visiting Nghiên, many people have been arrested, harassed, and threatened by officials.
It is also important to recollect that, upon the death of Phạm Thanh Nghiên’s mother, Nguyễn Thị Lợi, the communist government had assembled a large group of police and hired thugs to disrupt the funeral. Police also obstructed individual houses, to stop people from attending the funeral. Furthermore, police physically beat some of the funeral guests.
The ashes of Ms Nguyễn Thị Lợi, Nghiên’s mother, was refused burial in Đằng Lâm Cemetery. Its management team stated: “We do not have given permission for the burial, due to the political situation”. However, as her family strongly opposed the decision, this was resolved.
Locking a house down and confining its inhabitants is a violation of the law, committed by the Hải Phòng police department. This act has demonstrated disrespect for the lives of citizens, and illustrates the dishonest and underhanded dealings of the Vietnamese Government.
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