Vietnam Convicts Anti-SEZ Protesters

Ho Chi Minh City was one of multiple locations in Vietnam where anti-SEZ protests took place. (Pixabay)

A district-level court in Vietnam’s southeastern Binh Thuan province sentenced fifteen protesters to prison terms ranging from two to four-and-a-half years on September 26 for “causing public disorder,” according to Viet Nam News.

According to VnExpress, police officers arrested the demonstrators for participating in one of several nationwide protests on June 10 and June 11. Thousands gathered to demonstrate against a draft law regarding the creation of three new special economic zones (SEZs).

Although the national constitution permits freedom of assembly, such public demonstrations are rare due to the government’s increasingly hard-line attitude toward dissenters, Asian Correspondent said.

South China Morning Post reported that the controversial bill contains a clause allowing foreign firms to rent land for up to 99 years. While Vietnam already has eighteen SEZs, this specific provision stoked concerns that China would come to control the majority of investments.

As Asian Correspondent noted, opponents criticized the bill as a “sweetheart” deal courting Chinese investors by lowering tariffs and increasing incentives. For instance, the proposed 99-year land leases surpass the current maximum legal duration of 70 years, according to Asia Times. Quang Ninh, one of the provinces that will potentially house an SEZ, also shares a border with China.

According to Channel NewsAsia, the recent South China Sea dispute has heightened tensions between China and Vietnam. Along with memories of the two countries’ bloody border war in 1979, it kindled many people’s fear that enacting the draft law would undermine national security and threaten Vietnam’s sovereignty.

The ruling Communist Party of Vietnam government expected the parliament, which is dominated by its members, to pass the bill in early June, Vn Express reported. On June 11, however, lawmakers voted to postpone debate until the National Assembly’s next session in October after “listening to enthusiastic and responsible contributions of members of parliament, scientists, economists, experts, voters, and the people.”

South China Morning Post said that Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also responded to the public controversy by pledging to revise the land leases’ 99-year length. Nguyen Chi Tuyen, a well-known human rights activist in Hanoi, explained protesters’ continued opposition to the draft law, saying, “It’s not how long, but this is one kind of selling our land to foreigners under the so-called SEZs.”

According to Radio Free Asia, some of the June protests also focused on a newly approved cybersecurity law. As Asia Times described, the law requires companies like Google and Facebook to regulate online content, remove “offensive” material, and store user data on local Vietnamese servers. Critics argued that the law further suppresses citizens’ freedom of speech.

Radio Free Asia reported that in Binh Thuan, police officers used tear gas and water cannons against protesters, some of whom turned violent—burning cars, destroying property, and throwing sticks, bricks, and Molotov cocktails at police.

In total, dozens of demonstrators have been detained across the country.