A Catholic priest who set up an internet petition calling for democratic change in Vietnam has been jailed for eight years.

Sixty-year-old Father Nguyen Van Ly was accused of “conducting propaganda” against the state. Four of his associates, Nguyen Phong, Nguyen Binh Thanh, Hoang Thi Anh Dao and Le Thi Hang, were also sentenced.

Amnesty International's deputy Asia Pacific director Tim Parritt described the charges were politically-motivated and a "blatant attempt to silence [the five] and to scare off other critics of the government".

He added: "This sentence means Father Ly will be a prisoner of conscience for the fourth time in two decades. It is indicative of a broader crackdown on dissent by the Vietnamese authorities that has been intensifying since late last year.

"Father Ly and his associates are the first people who have been brought to trial during the crackdown. We fear others will follow.

"The Vietnamese authorities must immediately release Father Ly, Nguyen Phong, and the three others and stop harassing and arresting those who speak out against the government."

Background
Father Ly, who has has already spent around 15 years in prison for peacefully criticising the Vietnamese government, is a founding member of Bloc 8406, which in April 2006 launched an online petition signed by 118 democracy activists calling for peaceful political change and respect for human rights in Vietnam. The petition quickly attracted more signatories and its launch marked the effective creation of an internet based pro-democracy movement.