Vietnam court sentences farmers to total 32 years in jail
Asia-Pacific News May 30, 2011 Hanoi - A court in southern Vietnam has sentenced seven farmers to a total of 32 years in jail for subversion in one of the largest political trials in Vietnam's recent history. The seven farmers were convicted of 'attempting to overthrow the people's administration' under Article 79 of the penal code. The indictment said land reform activist Tran Thi Thuy 'and accomplices' were affiliated with banned opposition group Viet Tan, also known as the Vietnam Reform Party. They were also accused of involvement with an unsanctioned Christian house church, the Cattleshed Congregation. Thuy received eight years in jail and five years probation. The rest received sentences of between two to seven years. Earlier in the day, hundreds of bystanders gathered around the area, which was cordoned off by uniformed and plain clothed police, witnesses said. Fellow member of the house church Pastor Nguyen Manh Hung told the German Press Agency dpa that the congregation helped citizens who have not received compensation after having their land confiscated by the government. 'Authorities are very afraid of suing now as they see incidences in the Middle East and North Africa,' he said. Hung said he was subject to police threats and harassment 'many times.' 'Today I wanted to go to the trial, but the police are watching outside my door,' he said. Last week, five members of the US Congress, led by Representative Ed Royce, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung urging the government to free the farmers, saying the trial was a 'stain' on the government's religious freedom record. The Vietnamese government describes Viet Tan as a terrorist organization.
Vietnam Human Rights Network |