Luật sư Trần Quốc Hiền

Vietnam Court Jails Labour Organiser to 5 Years

A Vietnam court sentenced a farm worker organiser to five years in prison.

http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=44091

Reuters

A Vietnam court on Tuesday sentenced a farm worker organiser to five years in prison, the seventh political activist to be jailed for subversion against the communist state since March.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court handed the sentence to Tran Quoc Hien, 42, in a trial similar to those on March 30 and last Thursday and Friday in what Western rights groups and governments have described as a crackdown on dissidents.

The trials have come ahead of National Assembly elections on Sunday.

The government rejects accusations that it has charged anyone for their political views and says all of those convicted broke Vietnam's laws and consorted with overseas groups opposed to communist rule.

In four trials since March 30, seven activists have been found guilty and given jail sentences ranging from three years to eight years for "spreading propaganda against the state," a criminal offense under article 88 of Vietnam's penal code.

The United States, European countries and rights groups have condemned the sentences as unduly harsh on the tiny dissident community, whose members say they are peaceful proponents of a multi-party system and more freedom of speech.

Amnesty International and other groups have recorded more than 20 arrests since November, including lawyers, writers, religious people, a doctor and two businessmen.

Hien, described by activists as belonging to the outlawed United Workers-Farmers Organisation, was prosecuted for joining anti-government organisations in 2006 through the Internet.

His sentence included two years probation after he completes the five-year prison term.

The government said Hien "linked up with hostile elements to issue a manifesto on freedom and democracy for Viet Nam".

The manifesto was issued by "Bloc 8406," named after the date on which it revealed itself, April 8, 2006. Western diplomats and analysts have described the bloc as the closest Vietnam comes to having a dissident movement.

Published: May 15, 2007 09:03h