Rapper, Youth Activist Nguyen Phi Detained by Security Police

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July 14, 2015

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On July 11, Vietnamese youths prepared to attend an open meetup in Saigon, something they had been planning publicly for days. Outfitted in zombie t-shirts, they made their way to the meeting location on Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard in the middle of District 1, only to unexpectedly encounter security police. One of the organizers, Nguyễn Thanh Phước, was among the group of attendees escorted into waiting police vehicles and into custody.

Phước, who also goes by Nguyễn Phi, is a 23-year-old rapper and organizer for the zombie movement, a group mobilizing around dissenting rap lyrics and a logo of defiance. By the next day, security police released all other activists while Phi remained in custody.

After 48 hours in custody, five police officers took Phi home and raided for zombie t-shirts. In the process, authorities confiscated his computer.

The zombie movement was inspired by rap artist Nguyễn Vũ Sơn (also known as Nah) and his song “DMCS (Địt Mẹ Cộng Sản / Fuck Communism).” The popular song and its subversive lyrics inspired online and offline action: people around Vietnam took to Facebook walls and physical walls to declare “Tôi Không Thích DCSVN” (I don’t like the Communist Party of Vietnam”) and gave rise to the hashtag #DMCS.

The zombie logo is inspired by the song’s lyrics:

The whole generation has been brainwashed. What a misfortune!
They’re like zombies that will only waste our bullets
Hate the Communist Party but won’t fucking dare to speak up–you’re as good as mute

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The zombie logo: “open your eyes, free your minds.”

The zombie calls on youths to “open your eyes, free your minds.” An anonymous activist popularized the logo by printing and distributing t-shirts, keychains, and other apparel. Young Facebook users in Vietnam soon became an army of zombies.

While the movement is not formally led by one group or person, the zombie brand has become a symbol of unity. It has inspired young people to express their disdain with the Communist government in original and spontaneous ways.

At the time of this writing, Phi is still detained at the Ministry of Public Security Detention Center (PA 24) on Phan Đăng Lưu Street. No arrest warrant has been issued.

In recent years, Vietnamese authorities have arrested hundreds of activists and human rights defenders and sentenced many to long prison terms. It is common for activists to be arbitrarily detained for months without formal charges or any arrest documentation.

Phi’s friends speak to his passion for the community and dedication to the human rights movement. In support, fellow activists have begun using the hashtag “#FreePhi” to call for his release and have changed their profile photos to the zombie logo. Friends have posted messages of support on his Facebook wall. One youngster wrote: “Stay strong brother Phi. The zombies are opening their eyes.”

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Activists have begun circulating this graphic to bring awareness to Phi’s arrest. (Image credit: Facebook)

Source: Loa

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