Six dissidents on trial in Vietnam over democracy banners

They are among nine people being tried this week for propaganda against the state under Penal Code Article 88, which rights activists say criminalizes peaceful dissent.

“No democracy, freedom or human rights, also due to the communist regime,” said a slogan on one of the two banners hung last year from bridges in this northeastern port city and neighboring Hai Duong province, according to the indictment.

The banners also blamed the ruling Communist Party for last year's high inflation, and accused it of “losing the archipelagoes,” an apparent reference to a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea, the indictment said.

One banner mentioned Bloc 8406, a pro-democracy movement which took its name from the date in 2006 on which it was founded.

The accused also allegedly photographed their banners, gave out leaflets in Hai Duong, and colluded with overseas dissidents in what the indictment said were actions “very harmful to national security.”

Vietnamese trials are closed to the public, but some foreign journalists and diplomats received permission to monitor the hearing via closed-circuit television at the court building.

Poor audio made much of the testimony incomprehensible.

The accused are Nguyen Xuan Nghia, 60, a writer and the alleged leader of the group; Nguyen Van Tinh, 67; Nguyen Kim Nhan, 60; Nguyen Van Tuc, 45; Ngo Quynh, 25; and Nguyen Manh Son, 66, a dismissed member of the ruling party.

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