Legal proceedings launched against 17 rioters

BÌNH THUẬN — The People’s Procuracy of central province of Bình Thuận Province on Wednesday approved the launch of criminal proceedings against 17 people involved in disturbances of social order at the provincial People’s Committee headquarters in June this year, bringing the number of suspects facing prosecution to 32.

They are accused of “causing public disorder, destroying property and resisting on-duty officials.”

Investigations are underway to allow the trial to start soon.

The riot occurred on June 10-11 as people gathered and moved to the headquarters to protest a draft law on special administrative-economic zones, which would allow foreign investors to lease land for 99 years, sparking security concerns.

Traffic in Phan Thiết City on those days was seriously affected.

During the two days, a number of cars and motorbikes were set on fire or damaged. Meanwhile, 30 police officers were injured and the headquarters of the Bình Thuận Firefighting Police Department in Phan Rí Cửa Town of Tuy Phong District was seriously damaged.

In Phan Thiết City, 24 automobiles and motorbikes were vandalised. Protestors also destroyed the fence around the provincial People’s Committee headquarters, as well as some parts of other provincial agencies. There were 44 wounded police officers, with most of them discharged from hospital.

Bình Thuận Province Police said that those arrested told officers they were given money to take part in the disturbance.

According to the provincial Party Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, demonstrations and social order disturbance in the locality in June were provoked by reactionary forces. Most of those persuaded to join such incidents were people with a criminal background or drug addicts. The commission said the disagreement of the draft law on special economic zone was just a pretext for arousing public disorders. The police are searching for the masterminds can be prosecuted. — VNS