Bloggers set to be jailed after anti-government rants

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Vietnam jails 3 high profile bloggers

Vietnam jails 3 high profile bloggers

A Vietnamese court has ruled against the three bloggers for their “anti-state propaganda” posts in their blogs. The trial which only lasted for about a few hours has seen a lot of negative reaction from the international community to the point of seeing calls for the immediate release of the three from the European Union and the United States.

High profile blogger Nguyen Van Hai, who is also known as Dieu Cay, was handed down with a 12-year sentenc,e while Ta Phong Tan was given 10 years due to their posts.

According to court president in Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Phi Long, “Their crimes were especially serious with clear intention against the state.”

Another accused was Phan Thanh Hai was given a four year term after he pleaded guilty to the crime and promised the court “not to commit the crime again and to have no further contact with anti-state people.”

US state Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland called for the Vietnamese government to release the prisons and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said that their actions is a “serious concern”.

Is this a cause for concern to all bloggers in Vietnam and is this a form a stifling free media?

Image Source: thenewstribe.com