A Vietnamese court on Wednesday sentenced a group of dissidents to up to 16 years in prison for trying to overthrow the communist regime in a case which has sparked global concern.
This May 2009 photo shows Vietnamese lawyer Le Cong Dinh at a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City. A Vietnamese court has sentenced a group of dissidents to up to 16 years in prison for trying to overthrow the communist regime in a case which has sparked global concern.
This May 2009 photo shows Vietnamese lawyer Le Cong Dinh at a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City. A Vietnamese court has sentenced a group of dissidents to up to 16 years in prison for trying to overthrow the communist regime in a case which has sparked global concern. .
After a day-long trial human rights lawyer Le Cong Dinh, 41, French-trained computer expert and blogger Nguyen Tien Trung, 26, Internet entrepreneur Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, 43, and Le Thang Long, 42, were convicted of "activities aimed at subverting the people's administration."
After a day-long trial human rights lawyer Le Cong Dinh, 41, French-trained computer expert and blogger Nguyen Tien Trung, 26, Internet entrepreneur Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, 43, and Le Thang Long, 42, were convicted of "activities aimed at subverting the people's administration."
.
Thuc received a 16-year sentence, Trung seven years, while Dinh and Long got five years each, the court announced.
Thuc received a 16-year sentence, Trung seven years, while Dinh and Long got five years each, the court announced.
.
All except Long could have been sentenced to death.
All except Long could have been sentenced to death.
.
Their prison terms will be followed by house arrest of three years for all except Thuc, who faces five years.
Their prison terms will be followed by house arrest of three years for all except Thuc, who faces five years.
.
It is the most high-profile case in a series of arrests and convictions of dissidents and bloggers in the country over the past year.
"The acts of the accused are very dangerous for the society and infringed upon national security," Judge Nguyen Duc Sau said.
It is the most high-profile case in a series of arrests and convictions of dissidents and bloggers in the country over the past year.
"The acts of the accused are very dangerous for the society and infringed upon national security," Judge Nguyen Duc Sau said.
He found them guilty of a well-organised non-violent campaign, in collusion with "overseas exile reactionary organisations", aimed at overturning the government with the help of the Internet.
.
Although the defendants did not enter formal pleas, Dinh and Trung told the court in Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon, that they had violated the law, an admission which the judge said he took into account.
Although the defendants did not enter formal pleas, Dinh and Trung told the court in Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon, that they had violated the law, an admission which the judge said he took into account.
.
Dinh testified he had been influenced by Western human rights ideals and he believed that none of the accused had any real intention of overthrowing the government.
Dinh testified he had been influenced by Western human rights ideals and he believed that none of the accused had any real intention of overthrowing the government.
.
Thuc, who the prosecutor said was "defiant" before the court, received the harshest sentence.
"My behaviour did not violate the law," Thuc said, admitting he signed a confession saying he had called for a multi-party system.
Thuc, who the prosecutor said was "defiant" before the court, received the harshest sentence.
"My behaviour did not violate the law," Thuc said, admitting he signed a confession saying he had called for a multi-party system.
But he alleged he was "mistreated" during the investigation process which "was not conducted in accordance with the law."
.
The prosecution said Thuc set up a socio-economic research organisation which concluded Vietnam would be struck by economic crisis this year, presenting a good opportunity for political change.
The prosecution said Thuc set up a socio-economic research organisation which concluded Vietnam would be struck by economic crisis this year, presenting a good opportunity for political change.
.
All except Long were accused of links to the banned Democratic Party of Vietnam (DPV), which Dinh testified wants to establish a multiparty system.
All except Long were accused of links to the banned Democratic Party of Vietnam (DPV), which Dinh testified wants to establish a multiparty system.
They were accused of preparing dozens of anti-state documents and blogs.
Dinh allegedly drafted a new constitution, while Trung established a "democratic youth movement" together with students in France.
"I was immature," Trung testified.
Long, charged with the slightly lesser offence of being an accomplice, said he and Thuc were part of a group that discussed socio-economic issues and ways to "develop the country".
.
The prosecutor cited Long for his defiance in court. He admitted writing articles and sending them to a foreign radio service and said he had been wrongly accused.
"I think my discussion is natural and it's within my citizen's rights," he said.
The prosecutor cited Long for his defiance in court. He admitted writing articles and sending them to a foreign radio service and said he had been wrongly accused.
"I think my discussion is natural and it's within my citizen's rights," he said.
.
Neither relatives of the accused nor foreign journalists and diplomats were allowed into the courtroom, and watched the trial via closed-circuit television.
Dozens of police surrounded the court complex in central Ho Chi Minh City, where the defendants were arrested between May and July last year.
Neither relatives of the accused nor foreign journalists and diplomats were allowed into the courtroom, and watched the trial via closed-circuit television.
Dozens of police surrounded the court complex in central Ho Chi Minh City, where the defendants were arrested between May and July last year.
.
Dinh's arrest in particular sparked concern in Europe and the United States, and among a global association of lawyers, human rights watchdogs and press freedom groups.
"We would like to reiterate our deep concern over the arrest and conviction of persons for the peaceful expression of their beliefs, political and otherwise," US consul general Kenneth Fairfax said in reaction to the verdict.
Dinh's arrest in particular sparked concern in Europe and the United States, and among a global association of lawyers, human rights watchdogs and press freedom groups.
"We would like to reiterate our deep concern over the arrest and conviction of persons for the peaceful expression of their beliefs, political and otherwise," US consul general Kenneth Fairfax said in reaction to the verdict.
.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/165971/vietnam-dissidents-jailed-up-to-16-years-for-subversion
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/165971/vietnam-dissidents-jailed-up-to-16-years-for-subversion
.
.
.
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen