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Vietnamese bloggers go on trial for spreading anti-government propaganda Vietnam jails three bloggers for 'anti-state propaganda'
(about 3 hours later)
Three Vietnamese citizen journalists were put on trial on Monday for spreading anti-government propaganda and could face up to 20 years in prison, one of their lawyers said. Three Vietnamese citizen journalists who wrote about human rights abuses, corruption and foreign policy have been given jail sentences ranging from four to 12 years.
The cases against the two men and one woman are some of the most high-profile being undertaken by the country's communist rulers as they step up their campaign against bloggers and other pro-democracy activists. The cases against the two men and one woman were among the most high-profile undertaken by the country's communist rulers as they step up their campaign against bloggers and other pro-democracy activists.
Barack Obama mentioned the case of one of them – Nguyen Van Hai, who wrote under the pen name Dieu Cay – in a speech that called for greater freedom for media around the world. The three are founder members of the Free Journalists Club, a group of citizen journalists who posted their work on the internet. They were found guilty of spreading "propaganda against the state".
The US, which is seeking closer economic ties with Vietnam but also pressing it on human rights, has criticised the sentences.
"The government's treatment of Dieu Cay appears to be inconsistent with Vietnam's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights relating to freedom of expression and due process," it said in a statement.
Barack Obama had previously mentioned the case of one of them – Nguyen Van Hai, who wrote under the pen name Dieu Cay – in a speech that called for greater freedom for media around the world.
In late July, the mother of another defendant, Ta Phong Tan, self-immolated outside a government office to protest against the treatment of her daughter.In late July, the mother of another defendant, Ta Phong Tan, self-immolated outside a government office to protest against the treatment of her daughter.
Hai, Tan and the third blogger – Phan Thanh Hai – belong to the Free Journalists Club, a group of citizen journalists who posted their work on the internet.
Their lawyer, Ha Huy Son, said the three were put on trial by the people's court in southern Ho Chi Minh City.
The verdict could come as soon as Monday.
Tan, a former police officer, wrote a blog called Justice and Truth that criticised police abuse of power.Tan, a former police officer, wrote a blog called Justice and Truth that criticised police abuse of power.
Nguyen Van Hai attacked the government for its handling of tensions with China over disputed islands in the South China Sea. Nguyen Van Hai criticised the government for its handling of tensions with China over disputed islands in the South China Sea.
They are accused of posting and writing hundreds of articles that "distorted and opposed" the communist government. International rights groups had condemned the trial and called for the release of the defendants.
International rights groups have condemned the trial and called for the release of the defendants.
"Vietnam's arbitrary use of vaguely worded national security laws to imprison critics of the government means bloggers are bearing the brunt of this assault on freedom of expression," Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement last week."Vietnam's arbitrary use of vaguely worded national security laws to imprison critics of the government means bloggers are bearing the brunt of this assault on freedom of expression," Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement last week.