In the latest Amnesty Urgent Action letter, the Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union has written to State President Lương Cường of Việt Nam, urging authorities to ensure immediate and adequate medical care for imprisoned land rights activist Cần Thị Thêu, and to protect her and her sons, Trịnh Bá Phương and Trịnh Bá Tư, from all forms of torture and ill-treatment.
“No one should face imprisonment, mistreatment, or medical neglect for peacefully raising concerns about land rights or government policy,” said Karthika Sunil, Women’s Representative.
Ms. Cần Thị Thêu is a long-respected land rights defender and a leading voice in the Dương Nội community’s struggle against forced land confiscation. She and her sons were arrested in June 2020 for posting information online about a deadly police raid in Đồng Tâm; an incident that drew widespread concern over excessive use of force and lack of transparency. All three were convicted under Article 117 of Việt Nam’s Criminal Code, a provision routinely used to criminalize peaceful political expression and were handed lengthy prison sentences. Since her imprisonment, Ms. Thêu has reportedly suffered a serious decline in health while held in Prison No. 5 in Thanh Hóa province, where authorities have continued to deny her the urgent medical treatment she requires.
This case is part of a broader and escalating pattern in Việt Nam, where authorities increasingly use vague national security laws to silence human rights defenders, environmental advocates, journalists, and community organizers. Activists reporting on land seizures, corruption, or police violence are frequently subjected to harassment, arbitrary arrest, incommunicado detention, and unfair trials. Access to lawyers and family members is often restricted, and reports of torture, medical neglect, and punitive prison transfers remain widespread. By targeting individuals who speak out for their communities, the government continues to erode fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
“Ensuring Ms. Thêu receives proper medical care is the bare minimum I hope the President acts swiftly to uphold Việt Nam’s human rights obligations,” said Sunil.
We await a response from president Lương Cường on this urgent matter.
For More Information
The Amnesty Urgent Action Program allows the Union to take action regarding international human rights injustices that matter to students. Click this link to see injustices we have addressed previously, and for further information about this issue or to see a copy of the letter, contact the Equity Coordinator below.