22 activists imprisoned in Vietnam
22 activists have been given sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment after a week-long trial: [link]
The defendants were convicted of trying to overthrow the government — a charge which rights groups say is routinely laid against peaceful activists.
The group’s 65-year-old “ringleader” Phan Van Thu received a life sentence, while the other 21 defendants were given between 10 and 17 years followed by up to five years’ house arrest.
Their court appointed lawyer Nguyen Huong Que said that “Most of the defendants admitted their crime of aiming to overthrow the people’s administration. The sentences are adequate for their crimes."
The article also mentioned that Vietnamese authorities arrested 13 activists (unrelated to this group) last month.
So what are your thoughts?
The defendants were convicted of trying to overthrow the government — a charge which rights groups say is routinely laid against peaceful activists.
The group’s 65-year-old “ringleader” Phan Van Thu received a life sentence, while the other 21 defendants were given between 10 and 17 years followed by up to five years’ house arrest.
Their court appointed lawyer Nguyen Huong Que said that “Most of the defendants admitted their crime of aiming to overthrow the people’s administration. The sentences are adequate for their crimes."
The article also mentioned that Vietnamese authorities arrested 13 activists (unrelated to this group) last month.
So what are your thoughts?
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The communists are screw-ups and fascists, what’s new.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
Like someone else also posted, it is not a communist regime, far from it. It is a fascist regime - just like in North Korea, USSR and some other countries. And even in the US - however in the US, the fact is (or was) hidden from the people for a long time. When people rebel, at last you see what a country really is. We don't have to look at North Korea to see "OMG DICTATORSHIP".
Simply look at who owns the place.
Is it the people? Good. (Iceland)
Is it a handful of people? Not good. (USA, North Korea, Vietnam)
Like someone else also posted, it is not a communist regime, far from it. It is a fascist regime - just like in North Korea, USSR and some other countries. And even in the US - however in the US, the fact is (or was) hidden from the people for a long time. When people rebel, at last you see what a country really is. We don't have to look at North Korea to see "OMG DICTATORSHIP".
Simply look at who owns the place.
Is it the people? Good. (Iceland)
Is it a handful of people? Not good. (USA, North Korea, Vietnam)
Correct- authoritarian regimes hates it when people think for themselves.
Indeed. Unfortunately, some revolutions get kidnapped by authoritarian parties.
Unfortunately, that seems to be commonplace as history and current events show us.
Yub yub. It is so unfortunately. But, it's getting better, slowly. We just need to keep faith into the information technology.
Yes, the tools of communication are only improving.
Indeed, which can also improve relations among people.
Power corrupts. That's what it boils down to. It's my hope that Vietnam can get the revolution it needs. Granted, I know nothing about how the whole situation went down.
I read somewhere that people who are less ignorant, more knowledgeable about what goes on, tend to be the most depressed. Ignorance is bliss, as they say. In theory, it would serve a country well if all it took were ignorance to keep the populace happy, however the ignorant are the most dangerous, most likely to violently lash out. It would pay off in the long run for countries to educate the masses and change their ways where possible. Or be honest if they can't live up to their promises.
This is just my idealized view. I know it's a lot more complicated than that. Few people actually want to be saddled with such knowledge, because it would force them to be more responsible. XD; I'm sorry. I'm rambling...
I read somewhere that people who are less ignorant, more knowledgeable about what goes on, tend to be the most depressed. Ignorance is bliss, as they say. In theory, it would serve a country well if all it took were ignorance to keep the populace happy, however the ignorant are the most dangerous, most likely to violently lash out. It would pay off in the long run for countries to educate the masses and change their ways where possible. Or be honest if they can't live up to their promises.
This is just my idealized view. I know it's a lot more complicated than that. Few people actually want to be saddled with such knowledge, because it would force them to be more responsible. XD; I'm sorry. I'm rambling...
Yes it does, and it seems that the regimes with ALL of the power (authoritarian or totalitarian states) are among the most corrupt.
I read somewhere that people who are less ignorant, more knowledgeable about what goes on, tend to be the most depressed.
Holy shit, that's me!
Then again, a chemical imbalance plays a major part, too.
Anyway, ignorance should never be described as bliss. It is simply ignorance, something negative and harmful to individual and society alike.
It would pay off in the long run for countries to educate the masses and change their ways where possible. Or be honest if they can't live up to their promises.
It truly would; you're definitely not alone in thinking this way. And I assure you that you aren't rambling, this was a great post.
I read somewhere that people who are less ignorant, more knowledgeable about what goes on, tend to be the most depressed.
Holy shit, that's me!
Then again, a chemical imbalance plays a major part, too. Anyway, ignorance should never be described as bliss. It is simply ignorance, something negative and harmful to individual and society alike.
It would pay off in the long run for countries to educate the masses and change their ways where possible. Or be honest if they can't live up to their promises.
It truly would; you're definitely not alone in thinking this way. And I assure you that you aren't rambling, this was a great post.
XD the more I know, the more I feel regretful for how I used to act as a kid XD; I was always nicer, but I could still be a bitch... I managed to insult one of my best friends for being Mexican (she was actually from Puerto Rico, And I learned I was a racist little shit then! 
I'm much more tolerant now(many of my good friends being from Mexico and other hispanic regions), though listening to my parents I can see where a lot of that prior racism came from. I just never questioned anything before.
Ignorance is dangerous. It may be bliss (can't worry about what you don't know) but it's not bliss for anyone more enlightened. Despite your chemical imbalance, you seem like a very knowledgeable person. It's always fun to talk to you! You're also very noble and big-hearted, so it's like a double whammy just for that XD
I'm much more tolerant now(many of my good friends being from Mexico and other hispanic regions), though listening to my parents I can see where a lot of that prior racism came from. I just never questioned anything before. Ignorance is dangerous. It may be bliss (can't worry about what you don't know) but it's not bliss for anyone more enlightened. Despite your chemical imbalance, you seem like a very knowledgeable person. It's always fun to talk to you! You're also very noble and big-hearted, so it's like a double whammy just for that XD
Yeah, I feel the same way. I hate looking back at the stupid shit I did when I was a kid.
...Jeez, that's not good, insulting someone because of the place they were from DX Then again, you were a kid.
It's good to ask questions often, because that means you seek to develop an understanding of things.
And thanks for saying that; it really means a lot to me
...Jeez, that's not good, insulting someone because of the place they were from DX Then again, you were a kid.
It's good to ask questions often, because that means you seek to develop an understanding of things.
And thanks for saying that; it really means a lot to me
as long as people think power comes from the ability to persecute, these things will always happen. we will only hear more about them with the increasing technology of the media
It's a shame how these persecutions never seem to end.
check out Uyghur massacres by china
Meanwhile the government here in the United States has burned children alive for their parents' participation in non-violent labor strikes, has jailed hundreds of Occupy protestors over the past couple of years, and even bursted into the home of a couple of innocent anarcho-capitalists with stun grenades and assault rifles ready simply because they owned black clothing, spray paint and... wait for it... a stick, then imprisoned them not for being guilty of terrorism (which they weren't), but for not testifying before grand jury.
Okay.
Okay.
thats another issue, which does not affect this one. If you have to justify the actions of one nation against its people, vs another nation doing the same, your buying into the traditional nationalist trap of divide in rule. (not to say all people can't be proud of their country, but they shouldn't step on other people's pride either).
So when Russia likes to tout its freedom, and points the spotlight at OWS, and how independants, third parties, and the American prison system. And then America does the same with its media and Russia, and its system.
Then you tell me your going to pick sides, when protestors world wide have the same complaints, and get the same responses, from authoritarian figures?
also, as much as I hate to say this, what happened to occupy was nothing compared to the sentences these people got.
So when Russia likes to tout its freedom, and points the spotlight at OWS, and how independants, third parties, and the American prison system. And then America does the same with its media and Russia, and its system.
Then you tell me your going to pick sides, when protestors world wide have the same complaints, and get the same responses, from authoritarian figures?
also, as much as I hate to say this, what happened to occupy was nothing compared to the sentences these people got.
Correct, Jack.
Burning children alive in the United States? Where are your sources?
I'm aware of the other crimes, though.
I'm aware of the other crimes, though.
The Ludlow Massacre, in 1914. Eleven children and four pregnant women were shot, burned and suffocated to death by the anti-unionist thugs of the Colorado National Guard, and nothing was done by the federal government to intervene until the unionists took up arms and started defending themselves, fighting the militias back. [link]
which next year, will mark the 100th anniversary. Times have changed many times since then. We are talking about what is going on now.
It is relevant when you consider the fact that Woodrow Wilson's administration allowed that to go on, and that his form of progressivism is in a state of revival among modern American liberals.
no, its still a completely different time, and not relevant.
all involved parties are now dead.
mabey we can drag up napolean if we wanted to say something against france, or columbus against spain.
all involved parties are now dead.
mabey we can drag up napolean if we wanted to say something against france, or columbus against spain.
"mabey we can drag up napolean if we wanted to say something against france, or columbus against spain."
If there is an imperialist or colonialist revival, then yes.
I mean, nobody would say that Hitler is irrelevant to modern national-socialists.
If there is an imperialist or colonialist revival, then yes.
I mean, nobody would say that Hitler is irrelevant to modern national-socialists.
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