Vietnam jails dissident again over violation

Hanoi: A political prisoner in Vietnam was sent to jail for a second time after being found guilty of violating the terms of his house arrest, as the one-party state cracks down on critics.

Rights groups say at least 15 dissidents have been arrested since January in Vietnam, where a new administration in charge since last year has been accused of tightening already tough controls on freedom of expression.

Catholic activist Nguyen Van Oai was sentenced to five years in jail yesterday for failing to comply with terms of his house arrest and resisting public officers, his lawyer said after the half-day trial in the central province of Nghe An.

“The court delivered a very unfair verdict based on its biased views,” attorney Ha Huy Son said, adding that Oai would appeal the verdict.

Oai, 36, was convicted in 2013 along with 12 other activists of plotting to overthrow the govern- ment – a common charge levied against government critics.

He was sentenced to four years in jail and ordered to serve another four years under house arrest.

He was rearrested in January after he violated the terms of his house arrest and “strongly resisted” the orders of local officials, the state-run Ho Chi Minh City Law online newspaper said.

In a letter written ahead of the trial, Oai’s wife maintained her husband’s innocence and said he stood for “freedom and human rights”.

“He is innocent. He is only guilty of refusing to remain silent in the face of misconduct (by authorities),” Ho Thi Chau wrote in the letter posted on Facebook last month.

Vietnam has long been criticised by advocacy groups for its dismal human rights record. It routinely jails bloggers, lawyers and activists accused of criticising the state. — AFP