Vietnam jails 11 for inciting unrest
Eleven farmers, including two women, have been jailed in Vietnam for up to 13 years for "inciting unrest" during anti-corruption protests, state media said.
A court in Ninh Binh province, some 90 kilometres (56 miles) south of Hanoi, on Friday handed down the sentences ranging from 36 months under house arrest to 13 years in prison for the mastermind Pham Minh Con.
His three sons and three of his brothers were among those jailed.
The Nong Nghiep Vietnam (Vietnam Agriculture) newspaper said Monday the stern punishments were a warning to others who "take advantage of democracy and the fight against corruption to create social unrest and harm the state".
An official from Con Thoi commune's People's Committee said the trouble began in September last year when Con became embroiled in a dispute over land issues.
Dissatisfied with the way the local authorities addressed his grievances, he sent letters of complaint to provincial and central government leaders accusing commune officials of accepting bribes to rule against him.
The official, who requested anonymity, said Con then encouraged others in the commune not to pay their taxes and utility fees in protest that month.
When government officers came to collect the money owed, he and other farmers attacked them, injuring several people.
They then mobilised hundreds of people to demonstrate in front of the commune's People's Committee building, he said.
In February this year the commune leadership was changed but Con continued to protest against perceived injustices, the official said. Eventually he and 10 other "trouble makers" were arrested in April.
Land grievances are among the most common causes of protests in communist Vietnam.
Agence France Presse - October 21, 2002
More than 10 hurt in Vietnam land protest
HANOI - More than 10 people were hurt in northern Vietnam when hundreds of protesters unhappy over compensation they were paid for their land clashed with police, state-run media reported on Wednesday. The Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper said 10 residents and a number of policemen who were sent to restore order were injured in the clash on Monday in Hai Duong city, 58 km (36 miles) southeast of Hanoi. Police then detained eight people for allegedly obstructing law enforcement officials.
A local official who declined to be identified confirmed the incident but declined to elaborate. Lao Dong said hundreds of local people gathered at a construction site of a new residential area in Hai Duong, trying to stop the site clearance as they were unhappy over the compensation they got for their land claimed by authorities. Land disputes have become common throughout communist-ruled Vietnam in recent years as it pursues market-oriented economic reforms in a country where 80 percent of the population are farmers. The most common complaints from displaced residents are linked to accusations of corruption and inadequate compensation payments.
Reuters - October 16, 2002
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