HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam – Hoang Thi Minh Hong, a prominent Vietnamese environmentalist, has been sentenced to three years in prison for tax evasion. This comes after the arrest of five other well-known environmentalists on similar charges, raising concerns among activists about the government’s use of vaguely worded tax laws to target those deemed as threats to authority.

Hong, founder of the Center of Hands-on Action and Networking for Growth and Environment (CHANGE), an NGO focused on environmental issues, was arrested in May of this year. The trial that led to her conviction took place in Ho Chi Minh City on September 28, and members of the diplomatic community were denied access.

Prior to her arrest, four other prominent environmentalists, including Nguy Thi Khanh, a recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize, were also charged with tax evasion. Khanh was released just two weeks before Hong’s arrest. Human Rights Watch has called on the Vietnamese government to drop the charges against Hong, stating that the tax code is being used as a weapon to punish environmental leaders and suppress advocacy for climate change and green policies.

According to state media, investigators allege that Hong directed her employees at CHANGE to follow procedures that resulted in the evasion of 6.7 billion Vietnamese dong ($274,591) in taxes. Hong’s family has already paid 3.5 billion dong ($143,443) to the state, and they are expected to account for the remaining amount. In addition to the prison sentence, Hong was also fined 100 million dong ($4,098).

In a related development, Ngo Thi To Nhien, executive director of the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition Social Enterprise (VIETSE), was detained by police on September 15. The reason for her arrest has not been officially announced, and it is unclear what charges she is facing. VIETSE is an independent think tank focused on accelerating the transition of Vietnam’s energy system in a sustainable manner.

These recent arrests of environmental activists have raised concerns among the international community and human rights organizations. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over the situation and urged authorities to respect the rights of activists. Additionally, the arrests have raised questions about Vietnam’s commitment to the Just Energy Transition Partnership and its goal of reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

In conclusion, the sentencing of Hoang Thi Minh Hong and the detention of Ngo Thi To Nhien have highlighted fears and constraints within Vietnam’s NGO community. The government’s use of tax evasion charges against environmental activists is seen as a means to target and silence those advocating for climate action and green policies. The arrests have sparked concerns about the country’s commitment to transitioning to clean energy and respecting the rights of activists.