On the basis of Vietnamese laws and international law, the Ministry of Public Security determined “Boat People SOS” (BPSOS) as a terrorism-related organization.
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1. General information about the group
The “Boat People SOS” (BPSOS) organization, head by Nguyen Dinh Thang, was established in 1990.
BPSOS is headquartered at 6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 100, Falls Church, VA 22041-2220, USA. Its phone number is (703) 538-2190, fax number is (703) 538-2191, and its mailing address is P.O. Box 2652, Merrifield, VA 22116, USA.
The organization has various media channels, including its official website bpsos.org and media platform machsongmedia.com. It also publishes the newspaper Mạch Sống (Lifeline) and manages several Facebook pages such as "BPSOS - Vietnam Advocacy Project" and "Bàn Tròn Đa Tôn Giáo Việt Nam" (Vietnam Interfaith Roundtable).
2. Terrorism-related activities
BPSOS operates under the guise of "refugee assistance", but it, indeed, provides support to anti-Vietnam individuals and organizations, particularly “Montagnards Stand for Justice” (MSFJ) - a terrorist group responsible for the June 11th, 2023 terrorist attacks in Dak Lak.
On March 6th, 2024, the Ministry of Public Security officially put MSFJ and involved individuals on the terrorist list.
(1) Before the Ministry of Public Security named MSFJ as a terrorist organization and its members as terrorists, the group and its members had had terrorist activities as follows:
BPSOS provided support to a number of individuals, including Y Quynh Bdap, Y Phik Hdok, Y Pher Hdrue, Y Aron Êban, H’ Sarina Krong, H’ Tlun Bdap, Y Ruing Knul, and H Mla Hdruẽ (currently listed as terrorists by the Ministry of Public Security), in establishing the MSFJ organization in July 2019 in Thailand.
Later, BPSOS assisted MSFJ to register its legal entity in Virginia, USA, so MSFJ could operate legally in the United States from April 2023.
in an effort to support MSFJ's operation, BPSOS also assigned its members to directly provide guidance, financial support and other resources, as well as paid salaries to MSFJ members carrying out acts of sabotage against Vietnam, including their terrorist acts in Vietnam on June 11th, 2023.
(2) MSFJ and its members’ activities against Vietnam after the Ministry of Public Security had listed MSFJ as a terrorist organization and its members as terrorists on March 6th, 2024:
After the Dak Lak Provincial Police Department’s Security Investigation Agency issued Wanted Decision No. 12/QDTN-ANDT on August 14th, 2023, for Y Quynh Bdap, one of the masterminds, accusing him of the June 11th, 2023 terrorist attack in Dak Lak, BPSOS continued its support for MSFJ and its members.
Further, BPSOS assigned Nguyen Dinh Thang, Tran Khanh Trang and Truong Minh Tam to continuously provide financial assistance, guidance and operational direction to MSFJ members, including Y Quynh Bdap and Y Phik Hdok.
BPSOS also offered financial aid and arranged accommodation to Y Quynh Bdap to hide in Thailand.
After Y Quynh Bdap was arrested and faced legal proceedings in Thailand, BPSOS actively sought ways to prevent the Thai court from issuing a ruling to send Y Quynh Bdap back to Vietnam. The organization also fundraised to finance Thai lawyers to defend Y Quynh Bdap in court.
Dangerously, in coordination with H’Biap Krong, a member of the MSFJ terrorist organization, BPSOS engaged in lobbying effort to call on international organizations to support MSFJ's operation.