Endlich frei: Umweltaktivist Dang Dinh Bach

Dang Dinh Bach (known as Bach) is a prominent environmental justice lawyer in Vietnam who has dedicated his life to improving the health and well-being of marginalized communities affected by thermal power plants; farmers; and victims of land grabbing. Bach is currently in prison and his health has deteriorated due to the conditions and ongoing hunger strikes. In 2007, Bach started the “Law and Policy of Sustainable Development Research Centre” (LPSD). He was the director until the day of his arrest. LPSD provides legal advice for communities in environmental and pollution disputes, and trains young lawyers to become better equipped to protect the environment and public health. The NGO also engages in advocacy on environmental laws and policies. Bach was arrested on 24 June 2021, charged with “tax evasion” and sentenced to 5 years in prison on 24 January 2022. His arrest took place shortly after a campaign Bach led to reduce Vietnam’s reliance on coal was launched. At the time of his arrest, his newborn baby was only 5 days old. Bach was not allowed to meet with his lawyer during the seven months following his arrest. UN experts suggest that Bach’s prosecution was politically motivated. Along with Bach, in the same year, three other environmental NGO leaders were arrested and sentenced under the same “tax evasion” charge. Bach’s NGO and these individuals’ organizations all come from the same coalition which advocates for clean transition energy in Viet Nam. Bach maintains that he is innocent and has engaged in multiple hunger strikes to protest his unfair detention and ill-treatment in prison. While in prison, Bach has fought for justice and fair treatment of other imprisoned activists. Due to his protest to demand improvement in prison conditions, Bach and another activist were threatened with knives by inmates (it is a common tactic of prison management in Vietnam to use other inmates to harass or intimidate those protesting prison’s poor conditions). On 31 August 2023, prison officers beat him, causing a 7 cm long bruise on the back of his neck. Furthermore, due to three hunger strikes and harsh treatment, Bach’s health conditions have worsened significantly. In addition to being a tireless for the environment and disenfranchised communities, Bach is also the pillar of his family, both emotionally and financially. Bach’s arrest has left his wife alone in taking care of their baby, and she struggles to financially provide for their family without Bach. The authorities have also threatened to confiscate Bach’s house, citing his “tax evasion” charges. Thus, Bach’s wife and child are at risk of becoming homeless.