Australian citizen jailed in Vietnam for ‘terrorism’

The Vietnam News Agency released a picture of Australian citizen Chau Van Kham being escorted for trial in Ho Chi Minh City. He was jailed for 12 years on terrorism charges (AFP Photo).

Hanoi, Vietnam — Vietnam jailed a dissident with Australian citizenship for 12 years Monday on terrorism charges, his lawyer told AFP, in the one-party state where anti-government criticism is routinely quashed.

Chau Van Kham, who fought against the communists during the Vietnam War, belongs to the outlawed Viet Tan group and was in Vietnam for a fact-finding mission when he was arrested in January.

The 70-year-old was jailed for “terrorism against the People’s Administration” and will be deported after he serves his sentence, his lawyer Trinh Vinh Phuc told AFP.

Kham was jailed alongside Nguyen Van Vien, who got 11 years, and Tran Van Quyen who was sentenced to 10 years, both on the same charges.

“In court Kham said he did not conduct any terrorist acts, his activities were peaceful,” Phuc told AFP after the one-day trial in Ho Chi Minh City.

“Twelve years is too high,” Phuc said, adding that Kham had hoped for a sentence of less than 10 years.

His son told AFP he was “shocked” by the verdict, which could see his father remain in jail until he is over 80 if his appeal is not successful.

“It’s the worst possible outcome,” Dennis Chau told AFP from Britain, where he lives.

Kham and Vien were arrested on January 13 in Ho Chi Minh City, two days after Kham entered Vietnam overland via Cambodia.

He was in the country to conduct human rights research and meet with activist and civil society contacts, Viet Tan told AFP.

Prosecutors accused him of giving money to Vien and spreading information about Viet Tan in Vietnam, according to state media.