The Ho Chi Minh City Police Department on Nov. 9 announced the arrest of Tran Khac Duc, 29, a member of the pro-democracy group Tập hợp dân chủ đa nguyên (Pluralistic Democratic Association), established in 1982. State media reported that Duc was charged with “making, storing, and distributing materials and information aimed at opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” under Article 117 of the Penal Code. He was detained and indicted on Sept. 20.

Nguyen Gia Kieng, the leader of the French-based Pluralistic Democratic Association, confirmed Duc’s arrest with Radio Free Asia (RFA), saying that he has been detained for over 45 days. However, the police only announced his detention recently. Kieng added that the police had started to harass and assault many members of this organization over the past 12 months. This pro-democracy group’s mission is to advocate for the democratization of Vietnam through nonviolent, peaceful means.

According to the police, Tran Khac Duc has contacted and received directives from leaders of the Pluralistic Democratic Association to conduct anti-state activities. Duc was accused of managing this group’s website and drafting, posting, and sharing articles that contained content that insulted state leaders and revolutionary heroes, distorted history, denied revolutionary achievements, and sabotaged the “great national unity.” The police also alleged that Duc had developed a network of domestic personnel for this organization, which “directly affected national security and Ho Chi Minh City’s internal security.”

The Security Investigation Bureau of Ho Chi Minh City Police declared they were continuing to investigate the activities of Tran Khac Duc and other individuals related to this organization.