5 years in prison for anti-state propaganda

Two young men in Cam Ranh City (Khanh Hoa) were sentenced to a total of five years in prison for propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

On August 23, the People's Court of Khanh Hoa province held a first-instance trial and sentenced Nguyen Huu Quoc Duy (31 years old) to three years in prison and Nguyen Huu Thien An (21 years old, both residing in Cam Phu ward, Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa) to two years in prison for the crime of propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under Clause 1, Article 88 of the Penal Code. The two defendants are cousins.

According to the records, from the beginning of 2009 to the end of 2015, Nguyen Huu Quoc Duy used the social network Facebook to directly draft and share dozens of articles with incorrect viewpoints, distorting the guidelines, policies, and guidelines of the Party and State. Duy called on elements to fight together, demanding the abolition of the leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the management of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Nguyen Huu Thien An used paint to paint reactionary slogans in response to the call of the reactionary organization Viet Tan on the wall of the Vinh Phuoc Ward Police Headquarters, Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa) on the night of April 17, 2015.

Then, An used his phone to take a photo and posted it on the Facebook page of Viet Tan organization.

In mid-May 2015, An went to Singapore to attend a media training course organized by Viet Tan, Radio Free Asia (RFA), and Article 19. In addition, Nguyen Huu Thien An and Phan Trong Ngon (born December 22, 1998, residing in Ho Chi Minh City) discussed and planned a survey to bomb Nguyen Hue walking street, Ho Chi Minh City with the aim of creating a buzz and creating a hot spot. However, the above plan only stopped at the exchange and discussion between An and Ngon.

According to the People's Procuracy of Khanh Hoa province, Phan Trong Ngon has signs of committing terrorism. However, Ngon is a minor, not fully mature in terms of personality and psychology, and is negatively influenced by websites with reactionary political content. During the investigation, Ngon confessed honestly and his family cooperated actively, so the prosecution agencies did not prosecute Ngon but assigned the local authorities to coordinate with his family to supervise and educate him.

According to plo.vn