Vietnam jails prominent blogger for ‘anti-state activities’

From BBC

A court in Vietnam has jailed a prominent blogger for 15 months for anti-state activities, the second sentencing of a blogger in recent days.

Mr Dao, centre, who was arrested last year, said his posts did not impact badly on society. Photo from BBC.

Pham Viet Dao, 62, was found guilty of “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe the interests of the state”.

Mr Dao apologised in court for some “erroneous” information, but said his posts did not impact badly on society.

His blog ran posts critical of the government and sensitive issues like the territorial row with China.

Mr Dao was arrested last year. He previously worked for the culture ministry and is a member of the Vietnam Writers Association.

His sentencing came after another popular blogger, Truong Duy Nhat, was also jailed for two years on the same charges a few days ago.

“The defendant’s acts are dangerous to the society, causing anxiety among the public and reducing people’s trust in the leadership of the [Communist] Party and the state,” Judge Ngo Tu Hoc was quoted by AP news agency as saying.

Read the full story from BBC.