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Hoa Hao Buddhists jailed in Vietnam

Four defendants sentenced to a total of 31 years for protests against the communist government
Hoa Hao Buddhists jailed in Vietnam

Vuong Van Tha is guarded by police at the court on Jan. 23. (Photo courtesy of Baoangiang.com)

Published: January 26, 2018 05:33 AM GMT
Updated: January 26, 2018 05:36 AM GMT

A court in southern Vietnam has sentenced four Buddhists to a total of 31 years in prison for conducting campaigns against the communist government.

The People's Court of An Giang province on Jan. 23 sentenced Vuong Van Tha, 49, to 12 years in prison and his son Vuong Thanh Thuan, 28, to seven years. Twins Nguyen Nhat Truong and Nguyen Van Thuong, 33, were both jailed for six years.

The four defendants from the indigenous Hoa Hao Buddhist sect were also given three years' probation each.

"When the trial began, my husband cried in protest and refused to accept a lawyer nominated by the judge," said Tha's wife Le Thi Le Ha.

Ha, who was the only relative of the four defendants to attend the trial, said Tha also complained that the trial was unfair and that few of his relatives were allowed to attend.

"Police controlled him while the three other defendants hit their heads against the table to protest the judge," she said. "Then they took him to a private room where he could listen to the sentence and the trial ended."

According to the indictment, Tha, a father of two, used loudspeakers to slam government leaders for persecuting Hoa Hao followers, spread anti-government videos on social media, and called on people to protest the government.

Truong and Thuong were accused of giving food to Tha's family and supporting his work.

A local Hoa Hao Buddhist sect leader said the sentences "are very severe because the defendants have poor education."

He said Tha only finished first grade, his son reached seventh grade and Truong and Thuong are illiterate. 

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