Published October 10, 2016
Nóng: Bắt Khởi Tố Blogger Mẹ Nấm
On the afternoon of October 10, 2016, blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh — widely known by the alias Mother Nam (Mẹ Nấm) — was arrested by police in Khanh Hoa province. Authorities initiated criminal proceedings and placed her in temporary detention on charges of anti-state propaganda.
Charges Under Article 88
The arrest was carried out under Article 88 of the Criminal Code, which addresses the dissemination of propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This marked the second high-profile blogger to face prosecution under the same statute, following the earlier case of Nguyen Ngoc Gia.
Key detail: Both Nguyen Ngoc Gia and Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh were contributors to the online outlet Dân Làm Báo, described by the blog as a reactionary news platform.
Connection to Viet Tan
The post linked Mother Nam to the overseas organization Viet Tan, alleging that she was among a group of paid collaborators managed by Vu Dong Ha, who oversaw propaganda operations for the group. The blog suggested that following Quynh's arrest, other contributors to Dân Làm Báo would face similar legal jeopardy.
Prior Detention
Before this arrest, Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh had been detained and subsequently released on an earlier occasion. The October 2016 action represented an escalation, moving from temporary detention to formal prosecution and remand in custody.
Context
The case drew attention within Vietnamese blogging circles and among international press freedom monitors. The use of Article 88 against online writers and activists was a recurring subject of debate during this period, with critics arguing the provision was applied broadly to suppress dissent.