Vietnam court jails Australian citizen on charges of 'terrorism'

Vietnam court has reportedly sentenced a 70-year-old Vietnamese-Australian man to 12 years in prison after finding him guilty of terrorism on vember 11. According to an official statement released by Ministry of Public Security, Chau Van Kham, suspect was being tried for being a member of US-based human rights group Viet Tan. It furr ded that Kham was involved in raising funds for anti-state activities and h joined that anti-Vietnam protests in Australia and recruited members for terrorist body. Kham has been furr ordered to be deported after serving sentence. 

According to police statement, Kham h entered Vietnam from Cambodia earlier this year. He reportedly gave $400 to a man named Nguyen Van Vien to fund operations of Viet Tan. statement re that case is very serious and is a national security infringement led by Viet Tan's key people. However, Viet tan has dismissed case as a 'sham trial'. chairman of organisation furr ded that Viet Tan will continue to support human rights defenders on ground. Kham is a navy veteran of w-defunct US-backed state of South Vietnam. Back in 1975 he reportedly sought asylum in Malaysia after leaving Vietnam and he moved to Australia in 1983. 

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Viet Tan

Viet Tan is a network of member inside Vietnam that aims to establish democracy and reform Vietnam through peaceful and political means. organization was reportedly founded back in 1982 and operated underground for almost two deces. activities of organization are rooted in promotion of n-violent political change in country. Vietnam government, however, considers organization to be a terrorist group. United States government form Ambassor Michael Michalak reportedly rejected view and United Nations has also described organization as a 'peaceful organization vocating for democratic reform'. Viet Tan wants to remove existing restrictions against basic human rights by promoting free media, supporting grassroots movements, training and capability building and engaging in international vocacy.

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(With inputs from ncies)