In Nghệ An, Article 331 of the 2015 Penal Code has been used, once again, as the basis for arrest.
The Latest: On June 25, Nghệ An provincial police announced that they had prosecuted and detained Lê Thị Thủy (born in 1968) to investigate her for “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State and the lawful rights and interests of organizations and individuals” under Article 331 of the 2015 Penal Code.
The Details: Investigators said that Thủy played a leading role in “enticing and inciting” local residents to file complaints regarding a crematorium facility project in Tân Châu Commune, formerly part of Diễn Châu District, Nghệ An.
- Launched in April 2024, the project faced immediate opposition, which prompted the Nghệ An People’s Committee to halt further planning research.
- However, some residents continued filing complaints, believing the planned land area had not been officially canceled.
Police also said that Thủy and others had repeatedly organized large gatherings at government offices to “apply pressure and obstruct working sessions.”
- Thủy was accused of playing a key role in erecting “illegal” guard huts and barricades on the sole shared access road for the projects and of assigning people to take rotating shifts to block vehicles from entering the area.
- According to police, authorities attempted to persuade residents to remove the barricades, but Thủy and others continued to incite residents to “deliberately refuse to comply.”
- On June 25, the Nghệ An provincial police force forcibly dismantled the structures.
- Authorities accused Thủy’s actions of obstructing traffic, rescue work, and fire prevention operations, while “negatively affecting security and order, as well as the local investment climate and socioeconomic development.”
She was also alleged to have used social media to “post and spread false information that caused public confusion”; and to “incite, instigate, and entice large gatherings that obstructed the operations of agencies and organizations.”
- Citing the case, a Nghệ An provincial police officer advised the public to receive “objective information” and not share unverified content.
It remains unclear what specific content Thủy allegedly posted to warrant the accusation of disseminating “false information that caused public confusion,” nor did the police specify the exact complaint process she and the other residents pursued.
Luật Khoa contacted Nghệ An provincial police to verify the information but has yet to receive a response.
Online Reactions: Online reactions are divided; while some social media pages and groups argue that she deserves to be prosecuted and that the police should handle the matter strictly, others linked to the former Diễn Châu area defend Thủy.
- These supporters urge the public not to rush to judgment, stating she simply disagreed with the project and wanted to protect the environment and local residents.
- Luật Khoa contacted these accounts to verify the information but has not received a response.
The Background: According to Human Rights Watch, in the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnamese authorities arrested at least 40 people under vague legal provisions such as Article 331 and Article 117 of the Penal Code for allegedly criticizing the government, its leaders, or for being linked to independent groups.
- Several prominent figures have been sentenced to prison under these provisions, including lawyer Trần Đình Triển and journalist Trương Huy San.
Why It Matters: For years, many people in Việt Nam have been imprisoned under Article 331 of the 2015 Penal Code for expressing dissenting views on social media, as well as for exercising their rights to file complaints and denunciations.
- The provision is often criticized as “redundant” due to its vague wording, lack of clear legal criteria, and susceptibility to abuse by authorities seeking to control citizens’ freedom of expression.
The situation leads to a contradiction, considering that, legally, Article 6 of the Law on Complaints and Article 8 of the Law on Denunciations both prohibit acts of “obstructing or causing difficulties” for people exercising their right to file complaints and denunciations.
Lê Sáng wrote this article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on July 2, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine has the copyrights to the English translation.
