On Thursday 5 April, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) criticised the sentencing earlier that day of six human rights activists in Vietnam as part of an extensive enforcement of national security provisions.
"The sentencing today of Mr Nguyen Van Dai, Ms Le Thu Ha, Mr Pham Van Troi, Mr Nguyen Trung Ton, Mr Nguyen Bac Truyen and Mr Truong Minh Duc (...) continues the negative trend of prosecuting and sentencing human rights activists and bloggers in Vietnam", the EEAS spokesperson stated in a press release. The spokesperson added that this decision is "in direct breach" of the Vietnamese Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Vietnam has signed up. The EU expects these texts to be fully respected, the spokesperson stated, saying that these six people had peacefully advocated the promotion and protection of human rights.
The EEAS spokesperson said that the EU would continue to monitor and work with the authorities and all relevant stakeholders to improve the human rights situation in Vietnam.
Accused of "activities aiming to overthrow the people's government", the activists have been sentenced to penalties ranging from 7 to 15 years in prison and to several years of house arrest. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)