Democracy News

Democracy Activist Sentenced in Vietnam
January 15, 2010
By: Benjamin Russell | Printer Friendly

Tran Anh Kim, a member of Vietnam’s Democratic Party and pro-democracy petitioning group Bloc 8406, has been sentenced to 5 ½ years in prison, according to the BBC News.  Kim, a former army officer, was arrested in July for publishing pro-democracy articles online. 

Charged with “conducting propaganda against the state” and later with “attempting to overthrow the people’s administration,” Kim was one of dozens of dissidents recently arrested in connection to pro-democracy activities.  These arrests are likely part of a government crackdown ahead of this year’s Communist Party Congress, according to the New York Times. 

During his trial, held in the coastal province of Thai Binh, Kim claimed to be working for “democratic freedom and human rights through peaceful dialogue and nonviolent means.”  His actions were deemed to be a “serious violation of national security.”

Sources:

BBC World News – Vietnam sentences democracy activist to prison
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8432168.stm

NY Times – Vietnam Sentences a Dissident to 5 Years in Prison as Part of Crackdown
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/29/world/asia/29viet.html?_r=1