11 January 2013 – The United Nations human rights
office has expressed serious concern over the convictions and sentencing of 14
political activists in Vietnam for subversive activities.
In a news briefing in Geneva, a spokesperson for the
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Rupert Colville,
said that the 14 activists were convicted on 9 January in Vietnam's Supreme
People's Court, in Nghe An province, for “subversion of the administration”
under article 79 of the country's Criminal Code.
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Democracy activists convicted of plotting to overthrow the Vietnamese government were sentenced to jail terms on Wednesday at a court in Nghe An province.
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According to OHCHR, the activists were accused of
actively participating in and being members of a political organization known
as the Viet Tan. Reportedly, the Vietnamese Government considers the exiled
organization to be a militant group.
The activists received sentences ranging between three
and 13 years, with three of them receiving the 13-year sentence. All had been
held in custody for more than a year prior to the trial.
“Although Viet Tan is a peaceful organization advocating for democratic reform, the Government has deemed it to be a 'reactionary organization,'” Mr. Colville said. “None of those convicted are alleged to have been involved in violent acts.”
The spokesperson also expressed alarm over the fact
that that the convictions were handed down after only two days of trial, and
noted that these latest convictions – as well as the arrest and detention in
late December of a human rights lawyer, Le Quoc Quan – exemplify the limited
space for critical voices in Vietnam.
“We urge the Government of Vietnam to review its use
of the Criminal Code to imprison people who are critical of its policies, and
to review all such cases violating freedom of expression and association in the
country,” Mr. Colville added.
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