Arrest Warrant for Blogger Le Van Son

The police of Thanh Hoa Province has issued an arrest warrant for Catholic Blogger Le Van Son. The order dated 13 August 2018, declares that Le Van Son had “failed to execute judgments” under Article 304 of the Vietnamese Penal Code by breaching the terms of his probation. The warrant is effective nationwide, and the defender is currently in hiding.

Lê Văn Sơn Source: Supplied

The former prisoner of conscience has been under house arrest since his release on after 4 years serving in prison sentence for “carrying out activities at overthrowing the people’s administration” – a crime under the Article 79 of the Vietnamese Penal Code

After his release from prison on August 2015, Le Van Son was required to serve three years under house arrest. Son refused to obey the order as he explained he did nothing wrong and refuses to accept the sentence of which the Vietnam authority has imposed on him

Son was previously arrested on August 13, 2011 at around 11:30am. Policed blocked the road around his home in Thanh Hóa Province, and deliberately caused him to fall from his motorcycle as he was coming home. Four police officers dragged him into a police car. 

The arrest happened during the 2011 crackdown on Vietnamese youth activists which included 17 other Vietnamese youth activists.

On January 9, 2013, a trial was held by the People's Court of Nghệ An Province for 14 Christian democracy activists, including Paulus Le Van Son. All of them were sentenced to 3–13 years in prison on charges of subversion.