Nghe An: Detected and handled 12 cases, 24 defendants for crimes against national security

Seriously handle many cases and many subjects

Recently, on November 6, 2020, the Investigation Security Department (Nghe An Provincial Police) prosecuted, arrested, and detained Nguyen Van Lam (born in 1970), residing in Nam Dan district, residing in Vinh Yen block, Dong Vinh ward (Vinh city) for 4 months to investigate the act of "Making, storing, disseminating or propagating information and documents aimed atagainst the Socialist Republic of Vietnam".

One of the false and fabricated contents about the Communist Party of Vietnam that Nguyen Van Lam (left) posted on his personal Facebook. Photo: An Khanh

The Security Investigation Agency determined that from 2017 to now, Lam has regularly used the FB account "Lam Thoi" with 5,000 friends to share and post many articles, images, and videos with propaganda, distortion, and slander of the Party, the government, and many State agencies. At the same time, he incited people of all walks of life to oppose the Party and the State. Nghe An police have extracted 35 documents with signs of violating the law. Of these, there are 3 live-streamed videos, 18 articles directly made by the subject and posted on Facebook, and 13 articles shared by the subject from reactionary websites.

In another case, on April 22, 2019, the Investigation Security Agency, Nghe An Provincial Police issued a Decision to prosecute the case, prosecute the accused and issue an order to temporarily detain Phan Cong Hai (born 1996), residing in Nghi Dien commune (Nghi Loc) for the crime of "Making, storing, disseminating or propagating information and documents aimed at opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" as prescribed in Article 117 of the Penal Code.

Defendant Phan Cong Hai at the first instance trial. Photo courtesy of NPV

After a period of hiding, on November 19, 2019, Phan Cong Hai was arrested by Nghe An police. On April 28, 2020, Nghe An Provincial People's Court held a first-instance trial of the criminal case against Phan Cong Hai. The trial panel clarified Hai's criminal acts such as: Using Facebook accounts named "Hung Manh", "Ugly Vietnamese", "David Nguyen"... to create, store, and disseminate documents with the following contents: distorting, defaming the people's government, fabricating, causing confusion in the people's psychology, waging psychological warfare against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; posting 54 articles, many video clips, and images distorting the policies, laws of the Party and State; posting images insulting the national flag and leaders... The first-instance trial panel sentenced Phan Cong Hai to 5 years in prison and placed the defendant on probation for 3 years from the date of completing the prison sentence.

Trial of defendant Phan Cong Hai. Photo courtesy of NVP

Previously, on November 5, 2019, the People's Court of Nghe An province sentenced defendant Nguyen Nang Tinh (hometown: Quynh Hung commune, Quynh Luu district) to 11 years in prison and 5 years of probation for the crime of "Making, storing, disseminating or propagating information, documents and items against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam". Previously, the Investigation Security Agency (Nghe An Police) discovered and collected 22 articles, videos and images posted and shared on Nguyen Nang Tinh's Facebook page.

This shows that: Tinh, through his personal Facebook page, has connected with a number of extremist and reactionary elements at home and abroad to write, film, distribute, post, share, and comment on content distorting the nature of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; distorting history,infringing on people's governmentand the socialist regime; defaming the Party and State leaders; inciting people to protest and oppose the government; posting documents with fabricated content, causing confusion among the people... Previously, many cases and many subjects were brought to public trial such as Ho Duc Hoa, Le Dinh Luong, Tran Duc Thach for "activities to overthrow the people's government"; Ho Thi Khuong, Nguyen Trung Ton for "propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam"...

The trial of defendant Nguyen Nang Tinh in court. Photo courtesy of PV

The common point of these cases is that the subjects take advantage of the development of the Internet and social networks to spread bad and toxic information, distorting the guidelines, policies and strategies of the Party and the State. The main goal is to create psychology and public opinion at home and abroad to sabotage Vietnam. In addition, they fabricate stories about conflicts, factions, and internal fighting to cause division and destroy the great unity bloc... The actions of the subjects not only cause confusion among the masses, but also violate national security, affect political security, order and social safety. This is also a warning for those who go astray, go astray, and go against the interests of the nation and people.

Within 10 years of implementing Directive 48-CT/TW dated October 22, 2010 on strengthening the Party's leadership in crime prevention and control in the new situation, the authorities have detected and handled 12 cases and 24 defendants for crimes against national security. Of which, 3 cases and 3 subjects were prosecuted for "Activities aimed at overthrowing the people's government"; "Propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam"; 2 cases and 2 subjects for "Making, storing, disseminating or propagating information and documents aimed at opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam". The authorities also prosecuted 327 cases and 457 defendants for other crimes related to national security such as organizing others to flee abroad or stay abroad illegally; illegally manufacturing, storing, using, buying, selling, transporting explosives, military weapons; operating and circulating counterfeit money...

Building a national defense posture and people's security

To combat all types of crimes, especially crimes against national security in the new situation, in addition to directing functional forces to fight resolutely and strictly handle subjects who take advantage of democratic freedoms, find all ways to propagate against the State, affecting political security, order and social safety in the area. The Standing Committee of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee has led and directed the Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee and functional branches to strengthen state management in the fields and areas under their management; proactively detect and handle violations; build a solid national defense and people's security posture right from the grassroots.

Authorities mobilize to ensure traffic safety and suppress crime for the peace of people's lives. Photo courtesy of CTV

In particular, imbued with the viewpoint that "The strength to protect the Fatherland is the combined strength of the great national unity bloc and the strength of the times", in recent years, the movement "All people protect the security of the Fatherland" has also been built and expanded to suit each region, each type of object and each time. Up to now, the whole province has built 58 types of models, typical advanced examples in crime prevention and control, ensuring security and order in 1,443 residential areas, communes, wards, towns, agencies, enterprises and schools with effective operation.

Of these, 8 models were commended and replicated nationwide by the Ministry of Public Security. In addition, the province has 460 steering committees on security and order in 460 communes, wards and towns; 3,811 self-management committees on security and order in blocks, hamlets and villages; 21,124 self-management groups on security and order in residential groups; 4,502 crime reporting mailboxes. Through propaganda and mobilization work, the masses have provided 101,228 pieces of information, of which 39,342 pieces of valuable information have served the fight against crime and security and order in the area.

People of Huoi Co village participate in border patrol with Nhon Mai Border Guard Station (Tuong Duong). Photo courtesy of PV

Currently, the political, economic and social situation in the province continues to be stable and has developed. However, Nghe An is still identified by the Ministry of Public Security as one of the key areas in terms of security and order. Faced with many challenges and difficulties, especially from now until the 13th National Party Congress, political opportunists and hostile forces often take advantage of spreading unverified information related to pressing and prominent issues of public concern to exaggerate weaknesses and limitations in the leadership, direction and management of Party committees and authorities at all levels; lower the prestige of officials at all levels to reduce the trust of Party members and people, causing social instability.

Community camera system at the grassroots level actively supports the fight against crime. Photo: Documentary

In addition to the direct fight against all types of crimes, all levels, sectors and functional forces need to do a good job of grasping and orienting public opinion; proactively researching and forecasting complex situations that may occur in order to promptly propose policies and measures to mobilize the combined strength of the entire political system in the fight against all types of crimes in general, and crimes with anti-government acts in particular, especially in cyberspace. At the same time, every citizen needs to raise vigilance against tricks and acts that violate national security; promote civic responsibility, actively support the policies and guidelines of the Party, the State and the province in socio-economic development.

In Chapter 13 of the 2015 Penal Code, amended and supplemented in 2017, it stipulates the types of crimes against national security, including: Crime of treason, activities aimed at overthrowing the people's government; Crime of espionage; Crime of violating territorial security; Crime of rioting; Crime of terrorism against the people's government; Crime of sabotaging the material and technical facilities of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Crime of sabotaging the implementation of socio-economic policies; Crime of sabotaging the Great Unity policy; Crime of making, storing, disseminating or propagating information, documents and items against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Crime of sabotaging detention facilities; Crime of organizing, coercing or inciting others to flee abroad or stay abroad to oppose the people's government; Crime of fleeing abroad or staying abroad to oppose the people's government. The highest penalty for crimes against national security can be life imprisonment or death penalty. In addition, Article 122 adds: Offenders specified in this chapter may also be deprived of certain civil rights, placed on probation, banned from residence for 1 to 5 years, or have part or all of their property confiscated.