HANOI – A Vietnamese court yesterday upheld convictions against eight Catholics arrested during a land dispute with the government, after authorities revoked their lawyer’s licence and barred him from attending the appeal.
Scores of riot police cordoned off streets around the court in Hanoi’s Ha Dong district, blocking more than 1,000 Catholic followers who congregated outside from getting near the building.
In December, a court found the eight guilty of destroying property and damaging public order in a row over land once attached to the Thai Ha church in Hanoi. Seven received suspended prison terms and one was given a warning.
Nguyen Van Khai, a priest at the Thai Ha church, said they might appeal again. The only remaining avenue for appeal would be to Vietnam’s highest court – the supreme people’s court.
In August, state television showed pictures of people using hoes and hammers to break down what it said was a section of a brick wall surrounding the disputed plot of land, leading to the charges against the eight people.
The sentences in December were relatively light, political analysts have said.
Nevertheless, with the church’s backing, the eight not only appealed against the convictions but sought to sue several state-run news outlets for defamation.
Outside the court, church followers wore pictures of the Virgin Mary around their necks, waved palm fronds, sang psalms and chanted “Innocent!” Such public demonstrations or displays of solidarity are rare in the Communist Party-ruled state.
The Thai Ha Catholics say they have been trying for years to get back a large plot next to their church that the government took control of about five decades ago. They staged several protests last year around the land. – (Reuters)