Vietnamese dissidents' trial a mockery of justice

Amnesty International has called for the immediate and unconditional release of four Vietnamese prisoners of conscience jailed on Wednesday for their peaceful pro-democracy activism. In a trial lasting one day, a court in Ho Chi Minh City convicted the four dissidents of "activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration" and sentenced them to between five and 16 years in prison. "These people should never have been arrested in the first place, let alone charged and sentenced. The trial allowed no meaningful defense for the accused, demonstrating all too clearly the lack…

© Amnestie Internationale - mercredi 20 janvier 2010