Vietnam detains power coverage think-tank chief, human rights group says

Hanoi, VIETNAM — Vietnam has detained the director of a suppose tank that works on power points within the nation — the sixth professional engaged on environmental and local weather points that authorities have taken into custody previously two years, a rights group mentioned Wednesday.

Ngo Thi To Nhien, the manager director for Vietnam Initiative for Power Transition (VIET) was arrested on Sept. 15, in line with The 88 Venture, a bunch that advocates for freedom of expression in Vietnam.

Police additionally raided and searched the workplaces of the suppose tank and interrogated employees members, it mentioned.

It was unclear why Nhien was arrested. Police have mentioned the sooner arrests of different power consultants have been on suspicion of tax evasion.

An individual accustomed to the state of affairs who requested to not be additional recognized out of concern for their very own security confirmed that she had been detained. Police couldn’t be reached for remark after enterprise hours.

“Nhien’s detention is critical because it alerts that analysis on power coverage is now off limits”, mentioned Ben Swanton, of The 88 Venture.

When she was arrested, Nhien was working with the United Nations Growth Program to assist implement the Simply Power Transition Partnership, or JETP — a deal designed to assist the Southeast Asian nation part out use of fossil fuels with $15.5 billion in help from the Group of Seven superior economies, the advocacy group mentioned.

The German authorities mentioned in June that it was involved by the sooner detention of a distinguished environmental campaigner in Vietnam, warning that the JETP deal requires the involvement of civil society activists.

Nhien has labored previously with different worldwide organizations just like the World Financial institution, the European Fee and the United Nations.

Vietnam is one of some remaining communist single-party states that tolerate no dissent.

In 2022, Human Rights Watch mentioned that greater than 170 activists had been put beneath home arrest, blocked from touring or in some {cases} assaulted by brokers of the Vietnamese authorities in a little-noticed marketing campaign to silence its critics.