HCM City (VNA) – The People’s Court ofHo Chi Minh City has decided to deport a Vietnamese American man for disturbingpublic order in a protest against some draft laws last month.

At the first instance trial on July 20, thecourt said based on evidence, testimony of witnesses and the questioning of thedefendant at the trial, there was sufficient ground to conclude that NguyenWilliam Anh – a 35-year-old US citizen had committed the offence.

Specifically, when taking part in a demonstration in HCM Cityon June 10 to protest against the draft laws on cyber security and specialadministrative-economic units, Nguyen William Anh had jostled and disturbedbarriers placed in the way by authorised forces, climbed onto police trucks,removed police motorcycles to clear the path for the demonstrators to movethrough, and called on other demonstrators to do the same.

The defendant himself had known that demonstrationin Vietnam was illegal. In addition, Anh had not carefully studied the twodraft laws but still returned to Vietnam to participate in the protest.

At the court, Nguyen William Anh admitted theactions as stated in the indictment. He said he only came to know about thedraft laws through the Internet and online social networks. The defendantexpressed his regret at the actions and appealed for leniency, noting that he wishesto return to Vietnam to contribute to the country in the future.

The judging council said that, as the defendantis a foreigner and was committing a first time offence in Vietnam, they decidedto cancel his temporary detention and force him to leave the country when theverdict takes effect.

According to the indictment, since 2016, NguyenWilliam Anh, who was pursuing a Master’s degree in Singapore, usually followed newsabout Vietnam via social networking websites, which is where he foundinformation about the rally against the draft laws on cyber security andspecial administrative-economic units.

Before returning to Vietnam, Nguyen William Anhcontacted two people holding the accounts “Vi Tran” and “Anthony T. Nguyen” onsocial networks to discuss the forms and methods for taking part indemonstration in Vietnam. Anh told Anthony T. Nguyen of his intention to notcarry personal identification papers, resist authorised forces, and flee thescene if the protest became obstructed.

On June 9, Nguyen William Anh entered Vietnamvia Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. 

At about 9am of June 10, he came to the vicinityof Hoang Van Thu Park to join the protest. When the rally was impeded bybarriers made by authorised forces at the intersection of Nguyen Van Troistreet and a railway in Phu Nhuan district, he called on other people to break throughthe barriers and keep moving towards the city’s centre.

At 1pm the same day, the demonstrators wereobstructed by four police pickups at the Nam Ky Khoi Nghia-Le Chinh Thangintersection in District 3. Nguyen William Anh incited other protestors toovercome the trucks, shake to overturn the vehicles and move police motorbikesto clear the path for the rally.

Nguyen William Anh had made it 10m beyond the truck barricadewhen he was arrested and was taken to the police station. On June 12, he wasput into temporary detention by HCM City police. -VNA