28 Dec 2009

Vietnam sentences pro-democracy activist to jail

A Vietnamese court Monday sentenced a long-serving military officer turned pro-democracy campaigner to five and a half years in jail for attempting subversion against the communist regime.

Tran Anh Kim, 60, a former lieutenant-colonel, was convicted after a half-day trial at a court in the northern town of Thai Binh on charges that potentially carried the death sentence.

vietnam2

"It is a particularly serious case as it harmed national security," the president of the court Tran Van Loan said as he delivered the verdict. "He threatened the stability of the people's regime."

Another four Vietnamese, including a prominent lawyer, are to face trial in January on similar subversion charges, a sign of an increasingly hard line by the authorities against dissidents. Kim was accused of having major roles in "reactionary and illegal" political organisations, the Democratic Party of Vietnam and the pro-democracy bloc known as "8406".

The court ordered that after serving his jail sentence, Kim must be put under house arrest for three years. (AFP)

On the other hand: The Vietnam Industrial Construction Corporation (VINAINCON) has organised an inauguration ceremony for the Quang Son cement factory (more + nice picture here)