Binh Thuan releases official information about June disturbances
Official information about the disturbances protesting the draft law on special administrative-economic units in the south-central province of Binh Thuan last June were released by provincial authorities on July 11.
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At a press conference, the information and communication board of the Binh Thuan provincial Party Committee said on the nights of June 10 and 11, more than 400 people gathered in front of the headquarters of the provincial People’s Council and People’s Committee in Phan Thiet city, partaking in acts the committee deemed as extremist. It was not until after midnight on these evenings that the crowds were dissolved by authorised agencies.
Among the damage caused by the rioters, three cars, 20 motorbikes, and some rooms of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment were burned down. Meanwhile, several rooms of the provincial People’s Committee had their windows broken.
Authorities put 200 protesters in temporary detention and seized 218 vehicles to serve the investigation.
Meanwhile, on June 10, more than 500 protesters caused disorder on the National Highway 1A section in the Phan Ri Cua township of Tuy Phong district, and in Phan Ri Thanh commune of Bac Binh district, throwing bricks and stones, which resulted in traffic congestion. By about 11:20pm the same day, the crowd had been dissolved by authorised forces.
Around midday of June 11, protesters continued to attack the mobile police force with bricks and stones in this area. They burned down 10 cars and damaged 16 others and five motorbikes.
The rioters arrested in Phan Thiet city stated that they had received money from other people to cause disturbances, and none of them had known or had motivation for objecting to the draft law on special administrative-economic units, Binh Thuan authorities said.
Regarding the incident in Phan Ri Cua township, police identified 50 people who had incited and directly engaged in the disturbance, including 30 associated to drug circles.
The information and communication board said those inciting people to protest and disturb security and order were dissidents, and many of the rioters were criminals or affiliated to drug circles. They only took advantage of objecting to the draft law to incite crowds.
Binh Thuan police are seeking the instigators and masterminds behind the incidents to strictly deal with them in conformity with the law, officials added.
