Hanoi (VNA) – The Hanoi People’s Court on April 5 opened the trial of sixdefendants accused of “trying to overthrow the people’s administration” underClause 1, Article 79 of the 1999 Penal Code.

The defendants include Nguyen Van Dai (born in1969 and residing in Bach Khoa ward of Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi), Pham VanTroi (born in 1972 and residing in Chuong Duong commune of Thuong Tin district,Hanoi) and Nguyen Trung Ton (born in 1972 and residing in Quang Yen commune ofQuang Xuong district, Thanh Hoa province).

The three others are Nguyen Bac Truyen (born in1968 and residing in Ward 4 of District 4, Ho Chi Minh City), Truong Minh Duc(born in 1960 and residing in Vinh Thuan town of Vinh Thuan district, KienGiang province) and Le Thu Ha (born in 1982 and residing in Dong Giang ward ofDong Ha city, Quang Tri province).

There are six lawyers defending the sixdefendants at the trial.

According to the indictment of the SupremePeople’s Procuracy, from March 2013 to July 2017, Nguyen Van Dai, Pham VanTroi, Nguyen Trung Ton and Nguyen Bac Truyen initiated and established the “Hoianh em dan chu” (Brotherhood for Democracy) organisation. They built theorganisation’s platform, statutes and regulations and also steered its activities.

Dai and his accessories induced Truong Minh Duc,Le Thu Ha and some others to set up representative offices and a website of theorganisation and build a “brief platform” of “Hoi anh em dan chu”. Thisorganisation had a strict structure, strategies for internal and externalaffairs, and activities to develop its membership.

The indictment said the defendants tookadvantage of fighting for “democracy, human rights” and “civil society” toconceal the purposes of “Hoi anh em dan chu”. They connected with foreignorganisations and illegal organisations in Vietnam to seek overseas support andfinancial aid and conduct propaganda against the State, aiming that when theirforce was strong enough and the time was right, they would publicly confrontthe administration and change the political regime in Vietnam so as to build aregime of “pluralism, multiparty” and “separation of powers” and topple thepeople’s administration.

According to the Supreme People’s Procuracy,Nguyen Van Dai was the mastermind and acted as the second Vice President of“Hoi anh em dan chu”. He built the platform of the organisation, engaged indiscussing and planning operation methods and developing the force, and inducedLe Thu Ha to take part.

Dai was also accused of training and instructingother members about methods and experience of implementing activities, settingup schemes and contacting foreign organisations and individuals to call fordonation, and receiving 71,726 USD and 9,161 EUR financed for activities of“Hoi anh em dan chu”. He was accused of conducting propaganda against theState.

Meanwhile, Pham Van Troi founded and acted asPresident of “Hoi anh em dan chu”, held positions in charge of theorganisation’s activities in the northern region, and built the platform. Hewas accused of discussing and planning development of the organisation’smembership, inducing six people to join “Hoi anh em dan chu”, and guiding othermembers about methods and experience of implementing activities.

Troi was also accused of being in charge of thefund of “Hoi anh em dan chu”, directing the organisation’s members to opposethe National Assembly election in May 2016, and conducting anti-Statepropaganda.

The trial is scheduled to last through April 6.-VNA