Vietnam: Jail sentence for climate activist Hoang Thi Minh Hong condemned

Leading climate activist sentenced to three years in prison on trumped-up tax charge

She is the fifth prominent Vietnamese environmentalist to be accused of tax evasion in past two years

‘If Vietnam is serious about tackling climate change, it must release all environmental activists, campaigners and experts from jail now’ - Ming Yu Hah

Responding to the three-year jail sentence handed down against prominent Vietnamese climate activist Hoang Thi Minh Hong today on tax evasion charges, Ming Yu Hah, Amnesty International’s Regional Campaigns Director, said:

“This verdict is a self-inflicted wound on Vietnam’s ability to tackle one of the most seismic issues of our time.

“It is also the latest example of the authorities’ intentional misuse of tax laws to wage a crackdown on environmental activists.

“Hoang Thi Minh Hong is an internationally-recognised champion of climate justice.

“If Vietnam is serious about tackling climate change, it must release all environmental activists, campaigners and experts from jail now.

“The international community must condemn this verdict and urge Vietnam to drop all criminal charges against environmental activists.”

Life-long climate activist

Hoang Thi Minh Hong has dedicated her life to advocating and campaigning for clean energy and wildlife conservation. On 31 May, Hoang was detained by the Vietnamese authorities on trumped-up tax evasion charges. She is the fifth prominent environmentalist in Vietnam to be accused of tax evasion in the last two years.