This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6508837.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Vietnam priest defiant in court Vietnam priest jailed for 8 years
(30 minutes later)
A Catholic priest has gone on trial in Vietnam accused of disseminating information to undermine the state and forming an illegal political party. A Catholic priest has been jailed for eight years in Vietnam on charges of disseminating information to undermine the state.
Father Nguyen Van Ly, 60, shouted "Down with the Communist Party" as he was led into court in the central city of Hue. Father Nguyen Van Ly is a prominent democracy activist and long-time opponent of Communist Party rule.
The prominent pro-democracy activist, who was then removed from court, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The 60-year-old has been under house arrest since early February. His trial lasted one day.
Four other defendants share the dock with Father Ly, who has been under house arrest since early last month. Four co-defendants received prison terms ranging from 18 months suspended to six years.
After his outburst, a policeman covered Father Ly's mouth as he continued trying to shout, and removed him to an adjacent room. "The behaviour of the defendants amounts to the crime of spreading propaganda against the Socialist state", Judge Bui Quoc Hiep told the court in the central city of Hue.
The trial is expected to last one day. Earlier, a policeman had removed Father Ly from the court after he shouted "Down with the Communist Party".
In an unusual move, journalists were allowed limited access to the proceedings.
Political crackdownPolitical crackdown
Father Ly has already spent 14 of the past 24 years in prison for his opposition to Communist Party rule, says the BBC's Chris Xia. Father Ly has already spent 14 of the past 24 years in prison, the BBC's Chris Xia reports.
He was last jailed in 2001 after he urged the US to link its trade policy with Vietnam's human rights record. He was last jailed in 2001 after he urged the US to link its trade policy with Vietnam's human rights record. He was released as part of an amnesty in 2005.
He was released in 2005 and soon resumed his dissident work.
Father Ly is a founding member of Bloc 8406, a pro-democracy movement launched last April. He is also a member of the Progression Party.Father Ly is a founding member of Bloc 8406, a pro-democracy movement launched last April. He is also a member of the Progression Party.
Leading members of both groups have been detained in recent months, in what appears to have been a concerted drive against opponents of the communist government. Leading members of both groups have been detained in recent months, our reporter adds, in what appears to have been a concerted drive against opponents of the communist government.
An envoy from the Vatican raised the case of Father Ly with the authorities during a visit to Vietnam earlier this month. An envoy from the Vatican raised the case of Father Ly with the authorities during a visit to Vietnam earlier this month, but the envoy would not say what Vietnam's response was.
But the envoy would not say what Vietnam's response was.
State media has accused Father Ly and other pro-democracy activists of trying to undermine the Communist Party by forming illegal parties to field candidates in National Assembly elections in May.State media has accused Father Ly and other pro-democracy activists of trying to undermine the Communist Party by forming illegal parties to field candidates in National Assembly elections in May.
Only the Communist Party is allowed to stand, although a small number of seats are reserved for non-party members.Only the Communist Party is allowed to stand, although a small number of seats are reserved for non-party members.