Vietnam: Eight-year jail sentence for posting pro-democracy stories onto web condemned
Amnesty International has condemned the eight-year prison sentence handed down to a Vietnamese pro-democracy activist for posting articles on the internet calling for democracy.
The former Communist Party official Vi Duc Hoi was convicted of "spreading anti-government propaganda" by a court in northern Lang Son province earlier today. He was also sentenced to five years of house arrest after his prison term.
Hoi – a member of the “Bloc 8406” network of pro-democracy and human rights activists –had written extensively about corruption and injustice in Vietnam.
Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Deputy Director Donna Guest said:
"This verdict and sentence is a shocking testament to how the Vietnamese authorities show complete disregard for freedom of expression when it comes to people who peacefully challenge government policies.
“It’s difficult to understand why the authorities feel so threatened by peaceful dissidents such as Vi Duc Hoi. Rather than locking them up, they should be allowed to contribute to civil society and promote free speech and human rights.”
Vi Duc Hoi is one of at least 30 other peaceful dissidents currently serving long prison terms; others are awaiting trial. Amnesty International considers all of them prisoners of conscience.
Hoi joined the Communist Party in 1980 and held key positions within the party but was expelled in 2007 after he started calling for democratic reforms.
In October last year, Hoi’s home was raided (7th) and he was then arrested on 27 October.
Hoi was previously arrested in April 2008 for his part in protesting the Beijing Torch Relay in Vietnam, and was publicly denounced by a 300-strong party rally the following June.
Article 88 of the national security section of Viet Nam’s 1999 Penal Code is frequently used to imprison peaceful dissidents and government critics.
Donna Guest added:
”The Penal Code is long overdue for reform to bring it into line with international treaties which Viet Nam has ratified, and claims to uphold.”