Bach was imprisoned for “tax evasion” and sentenced to 5 years in prison after leading a campaign to reduce Vietnam’s reliance on coal. He was not granted a fair trial. He was not allowed to meet with his lawyer until seven months after he was arrested. He was prosecuted in a closed trial that resulted in a sentence much harsher than is usual for people accused of tax evasion in Vietnam.
United Nations experts suggest that Bach’s prosecution was politically motivated. He maintains that he is innocent and has engaged in multiple hunger strikes to protest his unfair detention.
Call to Action. January 24th, 2023 marks the one year anniversary of Bach’s sentencing.
One year after Bach was sent to prison we call on the international community to #StandwithBach
Together, we will send a message that:
We have not forgotten
Bach has been unjustly imprisoned and we call for his release
The green energy transition will not succeed unless environmental defenders like Bach are able to play a role
Since 1985, International Rivers has been at the heart of the global movement to ensure river-dependent communities’ voices are heard and their rights are respected.
Rivers are the arteries of the earth, supporting the highest rate of biodiversity compared to any other ecosystem and providing for the livelihoods of millions of local, indigenous and traditional peoples. Rivers are also under extreme threat, with less than 10% of the world’s river basins protected.
International Rivers strengthens movements of communities and civil society at the forefront of defending rivers by:
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