Four Catholic
activists, on trial for "propaganda against the state", are sentenced
by J. B. An Dang – AsiaNews.it
05/25/2012
The young people received sentences ranging from 18
to 42 months in prison, followed by a period of probation. Thousands of people
attended the trial outside the court, brandishing slogans of protest. Families
announce the appeal. Vietnamese bishops: the arbitrary application of the law
results in aberrations.
Hanoi (AsiaNews) - A
Vietnamese court has sentenced four Catholic activists of Vinh, under Article 88
of the Penal Code for distributing "anti-government leaflets" and conducting
"propaganda against the state" (see
AsiaNews 24/05/2012 Vietnamese Catholic activists on trial for
"propaganda against the state"). The young people - college students or recent
graduates - appeared yesterday before the judges of the province of Nghe An, in
the north of the country. According to prosecutors, they were active in the
Redemptorist News information
network and volunteers of a Pro-Life movement, which is fighting for the
protection of human life. Their claims of innocence during the trial and the
protests of thousands of Christians activists camped outside the courthouse
awaiting the verdict proved to no avail.
Local witnesses reported that Duong Van Dau received a sentence of 42 months in
prison, followed by 18 months' probation, Tran Huu Duc 39 months in prison and
one year of probation; Chu Manh Son 36 months in prison and one year of
probation, and finally Hoang Phong, sentenced to 18 months.
In spite of months of preventive detention awaiting trial, the four activists
have received support and solidarity from the Vietnamese Catholics, public
opinion - which appreciates the work done for the benefit of society and the
poor - and the international community. Thousands of faithful from Thai Ha and
Hanoi camped outside the court, trying to gain access as per the authorities'
promise of open proceedings in court.
In fact, only close relatives were allowed to attend the hearing, the majority,
including Fr. Anthony Nguyen Van Nien and Fr. Francis Xavier Hoang SI Huong, Cau
Ram parish, were forced to remain outside reciting rosaries and brandishing
placards reading "My brother is innocent" and "We protest against the arbitrary
and illegal arrests of innocent people."
The police finally decided to allow them entrance inside the outer courtyard of
the court, because the protests staged outside were attracting the attention of
passersby and onlookers. Immediately after the trial ended, the families of the
condemned announced their intention to appeal, noting that the punishment is not
comparable to the alleged "offense" committed.
In recent days, the Justice and Peace Committee of the Vietnamese bishops'
conference has also intervened in the court system of the country, stressing
that "if the application of the law remains arbitrary and does not the rule of
law closely" it ends up causing "many aberrations, which eventually push people
beyond the limits ". The bishops denounced the "arbitrary arrests", which
violates both the Penal Code as well as the international conventions signed by
Vietnam.