US 'deeply troubled' over convictions of Vietnamese bloggers

The US said here Monday evening that it is "deeply troubled" over the convictions of three Vietnamese bloggers, calling for their release along with "all prisoners of conscience." "We are deeply troubled by the convictions of three Vietnamese bloggers who appear to have done nothing more than exercise their right to freedom of expression," State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement. She affirmed that "punishing activists for simply exercising their right to freedom of expression is inconsistent with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." She added that these convictions "are the latest in a series of moves by Vietnamese authorities to restrict freedom of expression." "The Vietnamese government should release these three bloggers, all prisoners of conscience, and adhere to its international obligations immediately," she stressed. She affirmed that free media is "essential to an open and just society." Blogger Nguyen Van Hai (aka Dieu Cay) was sentenced to twelve years, Ta Phong Tan received ten years, and Phan Thanh Hai, four years. All face house arrest following completion of their sentences.