16-4-2024 (HANOI) A 60-year-old woman from Long An Province in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for her involvement with a terrorist organization operating from the United States. The verdict, handed down by the Long An People’s Court on Monday, serves as a stern reminder of the nation’s unwavering stance against activities aimed at undermining its sovereignty and stability.
Nguyen Thi Bach Hue, the defendant in question, was found guilty of “Activities against the people’s government,” a grave offense under Vietnamese law. According to the court’s ruling, Hue’s actions were deemed particularly severe and driven by personal motives to undermine the state’s authority.
Prosecutors argued that Hue’s primary motivation stemmed from the promise of financial incentives and housing offered by the terrorist organization known as “Chinh Phu Quoc Gia Viet Nam Lam Thoi” (The Provisional National Government of Vietnam), based in the United States. While Hue expressed a desire to extricate herself from the group’s clutches, she ultimately remained entangled, fearing retaliation for her attempts to break free.
The court proceedings unveiled a disturbing chain of events that led to Hue’s involvement with the terrorist organization. Four years prior, during a visit to a pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, Hue encountered a Vietnamese woman from the U.S., referred to as “sister 9.” This encounter marked the beginning of Hue’s descent into the organization’s ranks, as “sister 9” actively recruited her, dangling the prospects of financial rewards and housing.
Succumbing to the allure of these promises, Hue created multiple social media accounts and email addresses, facilitating communication and online meetings with other members of the terrorist group. Her primary tasks included disseminating propaganda materials, undermining the state’s authority through the spread of misinformation, and promoting the ideology of the organization’s self-proclaimed “prime minister,” Dao Minh Quan.
Between 2020 and mid-2021, Hue’s online activities intensified, as she utilized seven social media accounts and seven Gmail addresses to maintain regular contact with her co-conspirators. Her dedication to the cause earned her several titles within the organization’s hierarchy, further solidifying her role.
Hue’s involvement extended beyond virtual realms, as the organization sponsored her with a sum of VND10 million (approximately $397.18). However, her actions did not go unnoticed, and in April 2023, she was apprehended by authorities, bringing her illicit activities to an abrupt halt.
The case has shed light on the broader operations of Dao Minh Quan’s organization, which has been actively recruiting members and spreading its extremist ideology since 2013. Quan, who proclaimed himself the “prime minister” of the self-styled “government,” has been wanted by Vietnamese authorities since August 2017 on charges of terrorism. Through the establishment of websites and blogs, Quan and his followers have sought to expand their ranks, posing a significant threat to the nation’s security and stability.
As Nguyen Thi Bach Hue begins her 12-year prison sentence, her case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of engaging with terrorist organizations and the unwavering commitment of Vietnamese authorities to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and protecting its citizens from the scourge of extremism.
