The Vietnamese authorities have charged Pham Minh Hoang, a Vietnam-born French mathematics lecturer, with subversion for posting anti-government articles on the Internet and for being a member of a banned organization, state-run People's Police newspaper reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, Hoang was charged under article 79 of the penal code that bans "carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration."
Hoang is also accused of being a member of the banned Viet Tan, a pro-democracy group which Vietnam brands a terrorist organization. He had been in police custody since his arrest on August 13.
Vietnamese officials claim that Hoang had visited Malaysia in November 2009 along with his wife, Le Thi Kieu Oanh, to attend a training session conducted by the Viet Tan. They allege that he then opened a training center in Vietnam to recruit new members for Viet Tan.
"In fact, Hoang, through the training course, induced people to join Viet Tan to build forces," the People's Police reported, adding that Hoang has since confessed and pleaded for lenience.
Soon after the news about Hoang's indictment emerged, the Viet Tan alleged that the communist government was using the state-media to convict the activist for engaging in peaceful political activities.
In recent years, Vietnam's communist regime has imprisoned several pro-democracy bloggers and human rights activists accusing them of engaging in anti-government activities. Most of those jailed have been members of the Viet Tan.
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