"These are the regulations of this court," said an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who refused to be named. "No one is allowed to bring cameras, tape recorders, mobile phones, or computers into the courtroom."

The official said media and diplomats would only be allowed to watch the trial via closed circuit television in a room nearby. The trial is planned for Wednesday and Thursday.

The four pro-democracy activists include US-trained lawyer Le Cong Dinh, youth activist Nguyen Tien Trung, and internet entrepreneurs Tran Huynh Duy Thuc and Le Thang.

Dinh allegedly attended a conference on non-violent activism in Thailand last year, while the others are accused of circulating information on the internet advocating multiparty democracy.

The four have been charged under Article 79 of Vietnam's criminal code, "carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration." The maximum penalty is death.

Deutsche Presse Agentur - January 19, 2010

Vietnam appeals court upholds activists' jail term

HANOI - An appeals court in Vietnam on Tuesday upheld jail sentences for three pro-democracy activists convicted under a law which human rights activists say criminalises peaceful dissent.

The Supreme People's Court in Hanoi confirmed a four-year sentence against Pham Van Troi, a poet, and three-year sentences issued to former teacher Vu Van Hung and another poet, Tran Duc Thach, a court official told AFP.

Foreign journalists were not allowed to monitor the proceedings.

All three were convicted last October at separate trials for "propaganda against the state", under Penal Code Article 88.

Troi was found guilty of espousing a multi-party system. Hung, who testified that he wanted his "little voice" to help improve society, was jailed for hanging out a banner calling for political reform.

"I think they could have reduced their sentences. It's completely possible," said Luu Vu Anh, their lawyer.

An appeal for six other activists convicted under Article 88 in the northern port city of Haiphong in October is to begin on Thursday, their families and lawyers said.

The six, including writer Nguyen Xuan Nghia, were convicted of displaying democracy banners, distributing leaflets and campaigning on the Internet.

After the trials, the United States embassy said it was "deeply disturbed" by the nine convictions despite Vietnam's international commitments to uphold human rights.

The embassy said it was also concerned about the case of writer Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, who was "beaten and arrested" after publicly expressing support for the activists.

She is still detained and is to be tried on January 29 in Hanoi on a charge of intentionally injuring or harming the health of a person, a family member said. The crime is punishable by a jail term.

A separate high-profile trial is to begin on Wednesday in southern Ho Chi Minh City. Human rights lawyer Le Cong Dinh, French-educated computer expert Nguyen Tien Trung and two other activists are accused of activities aimed at overthrowing the communist government.

They could face the death penalty if convicted.

Agence France Presse - January 19, 2010