lmprisoned Vietnam climate activist, Hoàng Thị Minh Hồng, regains freedom

Imprisoned climate defender Hoàng Thị Minh Hồng was released in Vietnam on Saturday September 21st, 2024, one year after she was sentenced in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hồng was arrested on May 31st, 2023, and on September 28th 2023 charged with tax evasion and sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of 100 million VND. After serving one year of her three year prison sentence, she is now safe with her family.

Since her arrest, 9,206 people from 55 countries have signed petitions and pressured officials to call for Hồng’s early release, standing in solidarity with all climate defenders.

“When Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years, he spoke these words: “Our march to freedom is irreversible. We must not allow fear to stand in our way. Hong has stood against that same fear, and we are delighted to have her back in our arms. Our joy is overflowing and our thanks bountiful for everyone who helped secure her freedom.

350.org recognises that what has happened to Hồng is part of a broader pattern of repression against climate defenders in Vietnam. We stand in solidarity with other climate defenders who remain in prison in Vietnam, including Dang Dinh Bach and Bach Hung Duong. Our hearts are full with new hope and continuing solidarity for them.

As we head into New York Climate Week, we as a global climate organization urge all political leaders to secure the safety of all climate defenders across the globe. Hong is one among many inspiring climate defenders protecting all of our livelihoods and futures. They are fighting for all of us, against the power of fossil fuel corporations, who are willing to throw the entire planet into climate chaos for the sake of profit. Their fight is our fight. We are in this together” said Liangyi Chang, 350.org Asia Managing Director.

At the age of 24, Hồng became the first Vietnamese person to visit Antarctica, and as one of the country’s most prominent women climate leaders established an affiliate organization of 350.org. With its numerous accomplishments, the organization played a pivotal role in phasing out the development and funding of fossil fuels in Vietnam and advocating for its transition to 100% renewable energy.

Hồng’s freedom is a win for all people in Vietnam: she has been instrumental in educating the population about climate change and advocating for saying no to fossil fuels and building of community based renewable projects. As one of five countries most at risk from climate change, Vietnam is uniquely positioned to benefit from such advocacy, and her arrest undermined Vietnam’s positive steps towards climate action.

Globally, climate leaders are facing increasing persecution, from the UK’s heavy-handed arrests of environmental blockaders, to the US violently arresting celloists during the “Summer of Heat” actions, to Colombians ongoing crackdown on Indigenous climate leaders.

“It is with overwhelming joy that we celebrate the early release of our dear friend, colleague, and courageous advocate, Hoàng Thi Minh Hồng. Her unwavering dedication to justice and her tireless work have inspired us all, and her courage fueled our collective efforts to bring her home. Hồng believes in a better world, and today we are thankful to receive the news of her freedom; the world is much better for it.

We are profoundly grateful to everyone who has stood with Hồng, amplified her voice and demanded justice for her. As we gather during Climate Week in New York, we honor Hồng’s courage, and continue to champion the work of all climate defenders in Vietnam and their right to be free. Hồng’s release has demonstrated that hope and unity make an unstoppable force –  when we come together, we cannot be silenced. Globally, we are witnessing a concerning pattern of persecution against climate leaders. We must rally together to protect these brave individuals, whose voices are not just a call for justice, but a lifeline for our shared future” said Namrata Chowdhary, 350.org Head of Public Engagement.

Vietnam is a recipient of a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) agreement, a partnership designed to support the country’s rapid transition away from coal. The ‘Just’ aspect of the agreement has been under fierce scrutiny from the climate movement, as Vietnam has continued to silence climate defenders and the meaningful participation of civil society in its implementation.

Hồng’s early release resembles the early releases of environmental leaders Mai Phan Loi and Nguy Thi Khanh, who were both released several months before their full sentences, also charged under obscure tax violations.