Vietnam jails journalists

Ho Chi Minh City: A court in Vietnam has sentenced three freelance journalists known for their criticism of government to between 11 and 15 years in prison, after finding them guilty of spreading antistate propaganda.

Pham Chi Dung, Nguyen Tuong Thuy and Le Huu Minh Tuan were convicted of ‘‘making, storing, spreading information, materials, items for the purpose of opposing the state’’ at a oneday trial in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ministry of Public Security said.

Dung established the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vietnam in 2014, which police said had sought regime change.

Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party retains tolerates little criticism. — AAP