Jail sentences for two cyber-dissidents reduced

Reporters Without Borders deplored the supreme court's sentencing today of cyberdissidents Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan, who are also lawyers, to four and three years imprisonment each for “anti-government propaganda” and to four and three years house-arrest respectively on their release. They had been given heavier sentences (five and four years) by a lower court. “The charges, under article 88 of the criminal code, are far too vague,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said. "It is disgraceful that a call for multi-party rule is considered anti-government propaganda. As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Vietnam must respect the international agreements it has signed.” Vietnam is a 2008-09 Security Council member and was admitted to the World Trade Organisation in January. The government has cracked down hard on cyber-dissidents since 2002 and eight are currently in prison. --------------------------- 26.11 - Call for release of two cyber-dissidents at appeal hearing Reporters Without Borders called today for the release of human rights lawyers and cyber-dissidents Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan when their cases are heard by an appeal court tomorrow. The organisation also urged Hanoi-based diplomats to intercede on their behalf. Convicted in May of “hostile propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” under article 88 of the criminal code, Dai was sentenced to five years in prison while Nhan got four years. “We are very concerned about free expression in Vietnam,” Reporters Without Borders said. “From March to May, the country saw the biggest crackdown on dissidents since 2002. European Commission president José Manuel Barroso is currently in Vietnam to reinforce EU cooperation. We urge the international community to make an effort to obtain the release of Dai and Nhan, as they were unfairly convicted in a summary trial that lasted just four hours. We hope that the Hanoi court that hears their appeal will not act in a similar fashion. This appeal gives the judicial authorities a chance to reverse the earlier verdict and to show goodwill.” The two dissidents were arrested at their homes on 6 March for writing and distributing texts critical of the government, especially texts posted online, for responding to questions from foreign news media and for using their position as lawyers to get their message out. The trial judge said they “seriously violated Vietnam's constitution and laws by denigrating the Communist Party's role” and “misrepresented the situation of democracy and human rights in Vietnam.” One of the leaders of Vietnam's pro-democracy movement, Dai often posted essays on websites based abroad. Shortly before his arrest, he started a blog (http://nguyenvandai.rsfblog.org/) on the Reporters Without Borders blog platform (www.rsfblog.org), where he posted an essay on political parties and photos of a trip he made to the United States in 2006, during which he met State Department officials. With eight cyber-dissidents in prison, Vietnam is on the Reporters Without Borders list of 13 Internet enemies.