A court in Vietnam on April 18 convicted and sentenced 12 people to prison sentences of 3-13 years for “activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration” for participating in a California-based organization named “Provisional National Government of Vietnam.”
12 individuals are accused of receiving money from the US-based exiled group led by Mr. Dao Minh Quan to propagate against the State of Vietnam, carry out activities to overthrow governments in many areas, including Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, An Giang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Lam Dong, Phu Yen, and Kon Tum.
Vietnam’s state-controlled media quoted the court indictment as saying that the 12 above members had intensified propaganda activities, entice others to participate in the organization, and carried out a “referendum” to elect Quan as “President of the Third Republic of Vietnam.”
In HCM City, Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc Xuan is accused of actively participating in the organization, then she regularly uses the social network Facebook to broadcast live content calling for people to participate in the organization and conduct a “referendum.”
The indictment said that while participating in the organization, Ms. Xuan was given a cell phone by members of the organization, $300, CAN400, and VND3 million ($130).
Similarly, other members in Dong Nai, An Giang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Lam Dong, Phu Yen and Kon Tum were also accused of similar offenses, including participating in the making of three yellow-red-stripe flags of different sizes, printing and distributing documents such as “Provisional Constitution,” “Constitution of the Third Republic of Vietnam,” and “Biography of Prime Minister Dao Minh Quan” to disseminate information about the organization and implementation of the “referendum.”
The indictment said the defendants’ actions “discredited the Party and State; causing panic and oscillation among the people.”
Of the 12 people brought to trial, 9 were tried under Clause 1, Article 109 of the Criminal Code 2015 with a penalty of 12 to 20 years in prison, life imprisonment, or death; 3 people were prosecuted under Clause 2, Article 109, with a penalty of 5-12 years in prison.
The Trial Panel ended the trial on the afternoon of April 18, earlier than expected on April 19, and issued prison sentences of 3-13 years for the defendants.
Accordingly, Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc Xuan, 53 years old, was sentenced to 13 years in prison; Nguyen Thanh Xoan (50 years old)- to 12 years in prison; Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong, Luong Thi Thu Hien, Y Hon Enuol, Y Phuong Ding Rieh, Nguyen Minh Quang, Ho Thi Xuan Huong, Le Ngoc Thanh, Y Tup Knul, Pham Ho and Tran Van Long was sentenced to sentences ranging from 3 to 11 years in prison.
In addition, the 12 defendants were also sentenced to an additional 2-3 years of probation.
Vietnam labels the organization “Provisional National Government of Vietnam” and other overseas opposition political organizations as “terrorist organizations.” Responding to VOA Vietnamese in 2018, Mr. Dao Minh Quan denied this allegation.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
