Vietnamese are set to vote in National Assembly elections in May. Ahead of the elections, the regime has unleased a crackdown on independent candidates. Amnesty International had this story:

The Vietnamese authorities must end their crackdown on independent election candidates and critical voices, said Amnesty International today ahead of the country’s National Assembly elections scheduled to take place on 23 May 2021. 

In recent weeks, authorities have arrested and charged two independent candidates and one medical doctor under Article 117 of the Criminal Code for “making, storing, or spreading information, materials or items for the purpose of opposing the State of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam”, carrying potential prison sentences of between five and 20 years. 

Amnesty International has also received multiple credible reports of many other individuals across Viet Nam being subjected to harassment and intimidation by police for their involvement in the election and for criticizing government policies, in a worrying trend which could deteriorate further ahead of the election date. 

Read the full article here.