Vietnam Confirms Arrest Of Energy Think Tank Chief

Vietnam has officially confirmed the arrest of the director of an independent energy policy think tank, marking the sixth instance of an environmental expert being taken into custody in the country over the past two years. Ngo Thi To Nhien, the executive director of the Hanoi-based Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition (VIET), was reported to have been detained by a rights group last month, although no official confirmation was provided at the time. Nhien is a respected researcher with a history of collaboration with international organizations, including the World Bank, the European Union, the United Nations, and the Asian Development Bank. State media reported on Sunday that an arrest warrant had been issued on September 20, citing charges of "appropriating documents." Government spokesperson To An Xo announced the arrest warrant during a late Saturday press conference. If charged, Nhien could face up to five years in prison under Vietnam's criminal code. Two other individuals, Le Duc Anh and Duong Quoc Viet, were also arrested in connection with this case. Nhien's work notably involved the development of an implementation plan for Vietnam's Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), a $15-billion project funded by the G7 to facilitate Vietnam's transition away from fossil fuels, as reported by the freedom of expression group The 88 Project last month. This arrest follows the recent imprisonment of prominent climate activist Hoang Thi Minh Hong for tax evasion, a move that sparked international condemnation. While Vietnam has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has received pledges from wealthy nations to support its transition away from fossil fuels, the government remains intolerant of opposition within its one-party rule system. Critics have faced various forms of suppression, including intimidation, harassment, and restricted movement, with dissenting voices on environmental matters receiving little tolerance.