WASHINGTON— A court in Hanoi today sentenced prominent political activist and long-time RFA contributing blogger Nguyen Lan Thang to six years in prison on charges of spreading “anti-state propaganda.” He is among four jailed RFA contributors in Vietnam, Nguyen Tuong Thuy, Truong Duy Nhat and Nguyen Van Hoa. RFA President Bay Fang issued the following statement:
“Today’s conviction of Nguyen Lan Thang is both a miscarriage of justice and an assault on free expression in Vietnam. The outrageous harassment he has endured and his sentencing to six years in prison demonstrate the extent to which Vietnamese authorities will go to silence independent journalists and voices.
“Nguyen Lan Thang shared his perspectives and opinions online with a sense of responsibility and duty, but never with malice or disrespect. Nevertheless he is among four RFA contributors in Vietnam who have been ensnared by the government in an effort to censor and purge. Radio Free Asia calls for the immediate release of Nguyen Lan Thang and for all charges against him to be dropped.”
# # #
Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to "seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." RFA is funded by an annual grant from the United States Agency for Global Media.