Dissident Catholic Priest Sentenced

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Dissident Catholic Priest Sentenced
Friday, March 30, 2007
By BEN STOCKING, Associated Press Writer
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HUE, Vietnam — A Vietnamese court sentenced a dissident Catholic priest to eight years in prison for anti-government activities after a dramatic trial Friday in which the defendant shouted denunciations of the ruling Communist Party.
A judge at Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Court in central Vietnam sentenced Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly on charges of disseminating anti-government documents and communicating with pro-democracy activists overseas. It was the first time the government has opened a high-profile dissident's trial to reporters.
Authorities said Ly, 60 _ who has been jailed twice before for his pro-democracy activities _ was plotting to merge his Vietnam Progression Party with overseas democracy activists.
Ly was brought handcuffed into the courtroom along with four co-defendants at the start of the trial. Ly began to shout about Vietnam's Communist Party, but a police officer quickly covered his mouth and removed him to a nearby room where the proceedings were broadcast on a loudspeaker.


Ly was later brought back, but he refused to answer prosecutors' charges against him, declaring, "The Communists use the law of the jungle!" before being removed again.
In sentencing, Judge Bui Quoc Hiep said Ly deserved "severe punishment" for masterminding efforts to boycott Vietnam's upcoming legislative elections, establish unsanctioned political parties, and overthrow the government.
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http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Mar30/0,4670,VietnamDissidentTrial,00.html
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video: Au Vietnam, un prêtre catholique condamné à huit ans de prison