Hanoi Court Hears Appeal of Human Rights Lawyers Sentenced to Prison

The Associated Press

Monday, November 26, 2007

 

HANOI, Vietnam: Two Hanoi lawyers imprisoned this year for advocating a multiparty democracy asked a Vietnamese appeals court for their freedom Tuesday, saying they had committed no crime and were being punished for their beliefs.

Nguyen Van Dai, 38, is serving a five-year sentence and Le Thi Cong Nhan, 28, is serving four years after being convicted last May for disseminating propaganda against the state.

Prosecutors argued that Dai and Nhan had committed serious crimes and should not be released, but that it might be appropriate to reduce their sentences by one year because they had been honest with investigators.

Dai and Nhan were appealing their sentences before the Supreme Appeals Court, which was expected to deliver a verdict later Tuesday or Wednesday. Both of them told the hearing that they had been jailed for disagreeing with the government.

"I have always encouraged nonviolence in the struggle for democracy," Nhan said.

Dai said he had committed no crimes. "I just had a different opinion than the Communist Party of Vietnam."

Dai and Nhan were among several pro-democracy activists jailed during a crackdown on dissent by the party, which does not tolerate challenges to its rule.

At the time, prosecutors said Dai and Nhan had violated a broad prohibition on spreading propaganda against the government. The pair collaborated with overseas pro-democracy advocates and used the Internet to advance their views, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also said the defendants had worked with Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly, a dissident Catholic priest who was sentenced to eight years in prison in March.

Defense attorney Le Cong Dinh said the pair should be commended for standing up for their beliefs.

"They are patriots," he said. "That is why they bravely and peacefully expressed their political opinions."

Judge Nguyen Minh Man chastised the defendants for promoting democracy during interviews with foreign news agencies before their arrests.

Dinh replied that Vietnamese citizens should be free to grant interviews — just as President Nguyen Minh Triet felt free to talk to CNN during his visit to the United States this year.

Before their March 6 arrests, Dai and Nhan held discussions on human rights with Vietnamese students. Dai also represented ethnic minorities who were members of Protestant faiths.

 

 

Return to main page