Vietnam's government have always targeted activists, rights lawyers and bloggers. Now, a teacher has been arrested for posting material that 'aimed at undermining' the state, his family and official media said.
A crackdown against online critics has gathered pace in Vientam.
According to Amnesty International, there are currently 128 prisoners of conscience behind bars in Vietnam. About 10 per cent of them were jailed for online commentary on social media platforms.
The 42-year-old teacher allegedly posted about Viet Tan, a US-based activist group that Vietnam has labelled a terrorist organisation.
Nguyen Nang Tinh was arrested for "producing, disseminating or spreading information and documents aimed at undermining" Vietnam, according to the official police newspaper in central Nghe An province where he was detained.
His father Nguyen Dang Dinh he said that he is barred from visiting Tinh in jail.
Tinh is accused of posting "hostile thoughts" and "profound anti-government material" on his Facebook page. He was also accused of having links to "reactionary activists inside and outside" the country, a media report said.
According to Tinh's wife, he did not belong to Viet Tan and should not have been jailed.
She also added that he posted about a 2016 environmental disaster involving a Taiwanese steel company that dumped toxic sludge into the ocean, killing tonnes of fish and destroying the livelihoods of fishermen along the central coast.
Tinh could be held for several months until he is formally charged. And if convicted, he could face up to 20 years in jail. and faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted.
According to a cyber security law passed by Vietnam last year, internet companies like Facebook and Google are required to hand over user data and remove content if requested by the government .
Amnesty International condemned Tinh's arrest and said that his so-called crime was to have a peaceful political opinion.
