Rights activists to be tried in Vietnam: opposition

HANOI: Seven rights campaigners are due to stand trial in Vietnam accused of attempting to overthrow the communist government, political opposition group Viet Tan said.

All seven were arrested in summer 2010 and have not had access to families or lawyers, said Viet Tan, which described the accused as "Vietnamese patriots, faithful to their religious ideals, and selflessly serving their communities".

The defendants, who are set to go on trial on May 30, face charges under Penal Code Article 79, punishable by jail or a death sentence on conviction, because of affiliation with Viet Tan, according to the US-based group.

"They are aggrieved citizens who have petitioned for many years for legal redress, both for themselves and others victimised by government corruption," the group said in a statement released Friday.

Viet Tan, which is also known as the Vietnam Reform Party, describes itself as non-violent and pro-democracy but Vietnam a one-party communist state calls it a "terrorist group".

The case is the latest in a string of trials of activists in Vietnam.

Amnesty International has said dozens of peaceful political critics have been sentenced to long prison terms since a crackdown on free expression began about 18 months ago.

But Vietnam says it has achieved significant progress on human rights.

In the statement Viet Tan said Pastor Duong Kim Khai, 52, Tran Thi Thuy, 40, and Nguyen Thanh Tam, 58, were members "advocating for a democratic Vietnam". The three have been described as activists on behalf of farmers who have lost their land.

Viet Tan named the other activists as Pham Van Thong, 49, Nguyen Chi Thanh, 38, Cao Van Tinh, 37, and Pham Ngoc Hoa.

All seven, who will be tried in southern Ben Tre province, were said to be members of the Cattle Shed Congregation, a Christian Mennonite house church, and "engaged in peaceful advocacy for social justice".

"Communist authorities in Vietnam are using the legal code to rationalise human rights abuses and the silencing of peaceful opposition," said Viet Tan, which added that it plans to submit a petition on the case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.