Vietnam sentences American for ‘terrorism’
Source: 14/May/2008 Intellasia | AP
May 14, 2008 - 8:08:05 AM An American-Vietnamese political activist was sentenced to six months jail in a one-day trial, but he will be deported at the weekend as he had already served the time, U.S. embassy officials and his party said on Tuesday May 13.

Nguyen Quoc Quan, 54, an engineer from Sacramento, California, was arrested last November along with several other activists of the Viet Tan (Vietnam Reform Party) who were preparing to distribute leaflets opposed to one-party rule.

Viet Tan says it promotes nonviolent political change in Vietnam, and U.S.

Ambassador Michael Michalak has said he has seen no evidence the group is engaged in terrorism.

Quan was convicted by the People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh City, presiding Judge Vu Phi Long said. The court also sentenced Nguyen Hai, a Vietnamese citizen, to nine months in jail and three years of probation on the same charges, Long said.