Trần Thị Nga

Trần Thị Nga (born 28 April 1977) is a human rights defender from Hà Nam Province, Vietnam. She was arrested on January 21, 2017 by Vietnamese security police. Nga is member of Vietnamese Women for Human Rights. She also blogs under the pen name Thuy Nga and is known for capturing and hosting videos of police brutality.

Personal life Nga is married to Phan Văn Phong and has two sons.

Activism After being abused and exploited as a laborer in Taiwan, Nga spent 3 years recovering in the hospital. During this time, she learned about laborers’ rights. She did not know before then how she should have been treated. Along with advocating for labor and land rights, Nga also participated in anti-China and pro-environment demonstrations, watched blogger and rights activist trials, and paid solidarity visits to the homes of political prisoners. Nga has suffered from many violations because of her activism:

In May 2013, Nga and her young sons were kicked out from the motel at midnight where they slept on the sidewalk in the rain, as instructed by the police.

In May 2014, Nga broke her arm and leg because a group of five men assaulted her with iron rods.

In February 2016, Nga and her sons got shrimp paste thrown at them by civilian clothes men. She injured her eye and her older son had an allergic reaction.

2017 arrest and prison sentence On January 21, 2017, Trần Thị Nga and her husband were arrested while at their home in Phủ Lý in Ha Nam Province. Her lawyer, Ha Huy Son, said that "the court convicted our client with an already prepared verdict" and dismisses the charges as "groundless."

Nga's supporters were prevented from entering the courthouse including her husband and two sons. Dozens of activists sat across the courthouse to protest the unfair processes and called for her release. Videos show protesters confronted by plainclothed policemen pulling and tearing the signs from them. In the statement, Osius expressed that he was "deeply concerned that a Vietnamese court has convicted peaceful activist Tran Thi Nga to nine years in prison and five years of probation under the vague charge of "propaganda against the State."" A February petition signed by 900 activists stated that: "The arrest of Nga will not intimidate people with conscience and bravery. Moreover, this will make the democratic and human rights movement stronger."