Activists sentenced in Vietnam

Activists sentenced in Vietnam Thu May 10

A Vietnamese court sentenced three pro-democracy activists to prison Thursday after convicting them of spreading subversive propaganda, as the communist country continued its latest crackdown against dissent.

Prosecutors said the three had collaborated with Cong Thanh Do, a Vietnamese emigre from San Jose, Calif., who was expelled from Vietnam in September after authorities accused him of plotting against the communist government.

Le Nguyen Sang was sentenced to five years, Nguyen Bac Truyen to four years, and Huynh Nguyen Dao to three years.

They were found guilty of violating Article 88 of Vietnam's criminal code, which broadly prohibits disseminating information harmful to the state.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi released a statement saying it was "deeply troubled" by the convictions.

"We're not aware of anything to indicate that these individuals were engaged in activities that conflict with their right to peaceful expression of political thought, widely recognized under international law," the statement said.

The convictions came in the wake of a "disturbing increase" in the harassment of dissidents, the embassy said. "We call on the government of Vietnam to release these individuals and allow for the peaceful expression of political views without fear of recrimination."

On Friday, two well-known Hanoi human rights lawyers, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan, will go on trial on similar charges.

Hours before the trial began, Hanoi released a political prisoner who had been detained for more than two decades and allowed him to fly to the United States to be reunited with his family.

Authorities released Phan Van Ban We, who had been imprisoned since 1985 after he joined an organization calling for political change. Ban, a former policeman from the city of Dalat, left Vietnam on Wednesday night and flew to the U.S., where he was to be reunited with a son who is an American citizen.

Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet granted a pardon to Ban on April 25, citing his advancing age and desire to be reunited with his family, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Ban was born in 1937, though his exact age was immediately clear.

The U.S. Embassy issued a statement Thursday welcoming Ban's release.

"He was held in prison for more than 20 years after peacefully calling for political change in Vietnam," the statement said. "We are pleased that Mr. Ban will soon be able to join his family in the United States.