On February 22, security forces in Ho Chi Minh City blocked local former prisoners of conscience from gathering on the occasion of the Lunar New Year. The meeting, organized by the Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience (FVPoC), was held at Hoang Lan restaurant in Le Van Sy street, Tan Binh district in the late afternoon. However, key members of the organization, includung Co-President Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, coordinators Pham Ba Hai and Le Cong Dinh and other members were barred from leaving their private residences to the venue as the city's authorities sent plainclothes agents to block their areas. Only 30 guests of the event can come to the restaurant and they met under close surveillance of security forces and thugs, some of whom got access to the areas under waiters' clothes. However, they still discussed hot issues of the country, including the government's inhumane treatment of prisoners of conscience. When the participants tried to make pictures with banners of the names of prisoners of conscience, thugs came and caused troubles, not allowing them to get pictured. The meeting was stopped earlier than scheduled, some of the participants said. According to the FVPoC, Vietnam is holding 94 prisoners of conscience. According to Defend the Defenders, Vietnam is holding at least 180 prisoners of conscience. Vietnam always denies holding prisoners of conscience, saying it only imprisons those who have violated the law.