Vietnam: Police detain over a dozen protesters in Hanoi June 10

Event

Protests were staged in multiple Vietnamese cities on Sunday, June 10, over the planned development of three special economic zones which demonstrators argue would give preferential treatment to Chinese investors. Demonstrators also rallied to protest a cybersecurity draft bill. Police reportedly clashed with the protesters, detaining over a dozen people in Hanoi and dispersing demonstrations in Hanoi and other cities, including in Ho Chi Minh City.

Members of the National Assembly are expected to vote on both draft bills in the coming days. Demonstrators have vowed to continue protesting unless the government scraps both proposals. Additional similar protests are possible in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other cities in Vietnam in the near-term.

Context

The planned special economic zones in Van Don (Quang Ninh province), Bac Van Phong (Khanh Hoa province), and Phu Quoc (Kien Giang province) would reportedly provide investors with more economic incentives than offered elsewhere in the country. Foreign investors would be able to lease land for 99 years in these zones under the proposal.

Human Rights Watch has claimed that the cybersecurity bill - on which the National Assembly is expected to vote on June 12 - would give the Vietnamese government the ability to more intensively conduct online surveillance on social media platforms and stifle political dissent. In general, the ruling communist government has recently intensified its crackdown on dissent. The authorities retain tight media censorship and do not tolerate criticism. International human rights groups and some Western governments regularly criticize Vietnam for jailing those who peacefully express opposition views.

Advice

Individuals in Vietnam are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and large public gatherings as a precaution, avoid discussing sensitive political topics or criticizing the regime in public or on social media platforms, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.