Only in Vietnam: Clients cordon off police station to rescue lawyer

Victims of land grabs from across the country support lawyer Tran Vu Hai

Danlambao’s reader/Phương Thảo - In retaliation for the arbitrary arrest of lawyer Tran Vu Hai by Hanoi’s Police Chief Nguyen Đuc Chung, hundreds of people gathered and surrounded a police station to protest.

The incident happened on November 12th, 2015 at Xuân La police station, Tây Hồ district, Hanoi. This deserves to be recorded in the annals of international judicial records: clients stood up in protest and struggled for their lawyer’s justice.

Victims of land grabs from across the country support lawyer Tran Vu Hai. Photo FB Thao Teresa

Nguyen Duc Chung’s risky move

The demonstration was reportedly triggered by a mean act of Major General Nguyen Đuc Chung, Hanoi’s Chief Police and Vice Political Secretary.

Initially, for fear that a march of 200 lawyers would soon spark off, general Chung ordered the immediate arrest of lawyer Tran Vu Hai to prevent a demonstration, projected to take place in the morning of November 12, 2015.

This fool-hardy decision was immediately met with direct consequences. Hundreds of land seizure victims and human-right activists - those who had been the lawyer’s clients - quickly poured to the police station, demanding his release.

Photo: Facebook Tuyet Anh Jethwa

More and more people streamed into the vicinity of the police station in the evening, swarmming the area. Around 1,000 were estimated to be present in support of the lawyer.

Chung’s reckless action has backfired. Instead of dispersing a 200-person march, he has inadvertently created a demonstration with about 1,000 people.

“Long-term Resistance War”, side by side with the lawyer.

LS. Tran Vu Hai

Faced with public pressure, the police offered to “release” Mr. Tran Vu Hai, their lawyer. Mr.Tran, however, requested the minutes be taken about the illegal arrest the same day. Receiving no response from the police, Mr.Tran declared he would stay back until justice has been served.

Outside, those in support of Mr.Tran also stayed back.

Even pans, pots, cooking equipment etc… were brought to the scene to cook meals. His supporters were determined to stage a “long-term war” and stood by the lawyer’s side.

Several of Hanoi lawyers also came very soon to express their support for a colleague.

Photo: Facebook Dung Mai

This has been regarded as the most crowed demonstration ever held in Hanoi to demand the release of a person.

There were some scuffles as militia grabbed banners from the demonstrators.

Tension escalated when police vehicles were dispatched to stop the chaos; detention orders were likely to be given any time.

Mr. Felix Schwarz- political counselor from the German embassy present in front of Xuân La Police Station. Photo: Facebook Bach Hong Quyen

Will the presence of a diplomatic official stop Nguyen Duc Chung’s arbitrary actions ? Or , who knows, he’ll order his men to “bust” even the German political counselor?

Update: After more than 13 hours of unflinching struggle, lawyer Tran Vu Hai left Xuan La police station at 21:30 pm, November 12, 2015.