Information about Do Hoang Diem - Chairman of the terrorist organization "Viet Tan" on the Ministry of Public Security's electronic information portal.

Over the years, the terrorist organization "Viet Tan" has continuously carried out activities against the Vietnamese State. With high vigilance, Vietnamese authorities have repeatedly prevented these acts of sabotage and brought the terrorists to justice.

On November 11, the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City will open the first instance trial of 6 defendants on the charges of "terrorism against the people's government" and "Forgery of seals and documents of agencies and organizations."

In this case, the three defendants: Chau Van Kham (born in 1949, Vietnamese nationality, Australian; residence and permanent residence registration at 12, Kingsland Rd, Berala, NSW 2141, Australia); Nguyen Van Vien (born in 1971, residing in Block 3, An Son Ward, Tam Ky City, Quang Nam Province); Tran Van Quyen (born in 1999, residing in Huong Long Commune, Huong Khe District, Ha Tinh Province) were prosecuted by the Supreme People's Procuracy for the crime of "Terrorism against the people's government" as prescribed in Article 113, Clause 2, Point a, Penal Code 2015.

The remaining three defendants were prosecuted by the Supreme People's Procuracy for the crime of "Forging seals and documents of agencies and organizations" for having forged many identity cards and job application documents for the subjects in the case.

Knowing it was banned, still deliberately participated

The organization "Vietnam Reform Party" (abbreviated as "Viet Tan") is a reactionary organization of Vietnamese exiles, founded in 1982 in Thailand by Hoang Co Minh (former Brigadier General, Vice Admiral of the Navy of the former Saigon government), currently chaired by Do Hoang Diem (born in 1963, American nationality).

The goal of this organization is to eliminate the leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam and overthrow the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The initial method of action of "Viet Tan" was to use violence, weapons, terrorism, and sabotage in Vietnam, then switched to the method of "modern nonviolent struggle", essentially combining "nonviolent struggle" with "local violence".

On October 4, 2016, the Ministry of Public Security put "Viet Tan" on the list of terrorist organizations in Vietnam, and stated: "Anyone who participates, propagates, entices, incites others to participate, sponsors, receives sponsorship from "Viet Tan"; participates in training courses organized by "Viet Tan"; operates under the direction of "Viet Tan"... will be an accomplice to terrorism, sponsoring terrorism and will be handled according to the provisions of Vietnamese law."

In 1982, Do Hoang Diem joined the organization "Viet Tan." From late 2018 to early 2019, Do Hoang Diem continued to direct core members, organize connections to develop forces, train, infiltrate Vietnam to provide finance, incite protests... to oppose the Vietnamese State.

Chau Van Kham joined the terrorist organization "Viet Tan" since 2010, was one of the active members, represented the "Sydney Party branch" and was also the "Secretary of the Australian Party branch," and operated under the alias Hoang Liem.

Under the direction of Do Hoang Diem, in early January 2019, Chau Van Kham entered Cambodia, then used an ID card under the name Chung Chinh Phi to illegally enter Vietnam through the Cambodian land border.

Operating in Vietnam, Chau Van Kham lured and recruited Nguyen Van Vien (Grab bike driver) into the terrorist organization "Viet Tan".

On the morning of January 12, 2019, Kham met Vien at a coffee shop in District 1 (Ho Chi Minh City). There, Kham informed Vien about the operation methods of "Viet Tan"; "Viet Tan's" views on a number of international issues and views on Vietnam.

At the same time, Kham gave Vien 400 USD and then Vien agreed to join the organization. Using professional measures, the Ministry of Public Security's Security Investigation Agency promptly arrested Kham and Vien.

Expanding the investigation, the police arrested Tran Van Quyen (a camera installer) and 3 other subjects. Quyen had gone to Cambodia with Vien to attend a training course of the terrorist organization "Viet Tan".

Do Hoang Diem also sent 900 USD to Quyen so that Quyen could arrange jobs for the organization's people.

The Supreme People's Procuracy's indictment determined that Chau Van Kham participated in fundraising events to support domestic activists, participated in anti-Vietnam protests; selected targets to develop forces; used other people's documents to infiltrate Vietnam to provide finance and propagate policies for new members of "Viet Tan."

Nguyen Van Vien was influenced by Do Hoang Diem to join the "Viet Tan" organization and introduced to Tran Van Quyen to arrange a job; he left for Cambodia to participate in a training course organized by Do Hoang Diem and his accomplices.

Tran Van Quyen joined the terrorist organization "Viet Tan" since September 2018. During the process of learning about and joining the organization, Quyen hired domestic subjects to make 2 fake ID cards for "Viet Tan" members; surveyed a number of roads with camera locations installed to provide to Do Hoang Diem; surveyed road infiltration routes in the Vietnam - Cambodia border area; left the country for Cambodia to attend a training course organized by "Viet Tan"; received money to arrange jobs for people of the terrorist organization "Viet Tan"...

The Supreme People's Procuracy affirmed that Chau Van Kham, Nguyen Van Vien, and Tran Van Quyen knew clearly that "Viet Tan" was a terrorist organization in Vietnam as announced by the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security, but still participated in the organization.

Regarding Do Hoang Diem, the Supreme People's Procuracy determined that he was the mastermind in this case. Currently, Do Hoang Diem is in the US, so the Ministry of Public Security has issued a wanted notice. Once he is arrested, he will be prosecuted.

Timely prevention of sabotage by the terrorist organization "Viet Tan"

After its establishment, "Viet Tan" organized recruitment and training for members on how to use weapons and explosives; conducted terrorist activities, sabotage, kidnapping, and hostage killings; conducted campaigns to bring armed groups with hundreds of members from Thailand through Laos and Cambodia to Vietnam to establish "secret bases" and conduct riots and terrorism, but were prevented and neutralized by Vietnamese and Lao authorities.

Currently, "Viet Tan" continues to recruit, train, and direct members to infiltrate Vietnam to incite protests, disrupt security, riots, assassinate, and kidnap hostages; send people abroad to train, coach, and organize online training courses on methods and activities of terrorism and sabotage; disseminate instructions on the Internet on how to make petrol bombs to serve terrorist activities, sabotage, and assassination...

Similar to the Chau Van Kham case, to carry out its sabotage goals, "Viet Tan" has repeatedly allowed its members to illegally enter Vietnam.

Dao Minh Quan (left corner) is the leader and commander of the terrorist organization "Provisional National Government of Vietnam". Photo: Archive

In 2007, Nguyen Hai, Nguyen Ngoc Duc, Nguyen Quoc Quan, Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, Truong Leon - members of "Viet Tan" - infiltrated Vietnam, carrying out the task of directing "domestic bases" to make and distribute leaflets with content inciting protests, disrupting security, and causing riots to cause panic among the people. This group was promptly stopped by the authorities and brought to trial in May 2008.

Another more sophisticated case is that of Pham Minh Hoang (a member of "Viet Tan" in France) returning to Vietnam to infiltrate as a contract lecturer at a university in Ho Chi Minh City.

During his time there, Hoang wrote 33 articles distorting the policies and guidelines of the Vietnamese Party and State and sent them to the terrorist organization Viet Tan to post on the Internet in order to incite and attract people to protest. In 2011, Hoang had to stand trial for his crimes.

In addition, from August 2009 to November 2011, the terrorist organization "Viet Tan" sent 17 domestic-based subjects to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and the United States many times to receive training from "Viet Tan leaders".

On August 2, 2011, when the subjects entered Vietnam, they were discovered and arrested by the Ministry of Public Security Security Agency.

Be alert to Internet provocations

Recently, many incidents have shown that the terrorist organization "Viet Tan" has taken full advantage of the development of the Internet, especially social networks, to propagate, attack, and entice people to join disguised groups and associations on cyberspace.

This group always uses the name of social criticism, fighting for democracy, human rights, building civil society, protecting sovereignty and territory... but in reality it is to propagate and distort the Party and State's guidelines, policies and strategies; incite hostile thoughts and attitudes among a segment of the people.

Specifically in the above case, Do Hoang Diem used a Facebook account named "Hoang Nguyen" and then became friends with Tran Van Quyen through this social network.

Diem instructed Quyen to use other social networking applications and showed Quyen how to read about political and social issues in Vietnam, inciting dissatisfaction with the government to entice Quyen to join the terrorist organization "Viet Tan."

Chau Van Kham uses the social network Facebook with the name "Kham Chau" to answer questions about the organization "Viet Tan" on the Facebook page "Viet Tan".

After Chau Van Kham was arrested, the Facebook page "Viet Tan" spread many documents with content that reflected the incident incorrectly, slandered, fabricated, and defamed the Party, the State, and the socialist regime in Vietnam, and also spread many "open letters" with content calling on organizations that are said to be for freedom, democracy, and human rights to speak out and intervene to force the Vietnamese Government to release Chau Van Kham. These are tricks of distortion aimed at sabotaging the Vietnamese revolution by the terrorist organization "Viet Tan." People need to be extremely vigilant against the fabrications of these subjects.

Recently, in August 2019, based on the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on anti-money laundering and terrorist financing, and based on the request of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Ministry of Public Security announced a list of organizations and individuals related to terrorism and terrorist financing.

In addition to the "Viet Tan terrorist organization" and the "Provisional National Government of Vietnam" (organizations related to terrorism and terrorism financing), the Ministry of Public Security also added a list of organizations and individuals related to terrorism and terrorism financing designated by the United Nations Security Council.