After locking up three pro-democracy bloggers on Wednesday, Vietnam is now facing criticism from the US and human rights groups. 

With a presidential transition approaching in January, this is a rigid and difficult period for the country. 

In the past few months, Vietnam has arrested and imprisoned multiple critics of the government and has increased the intensity of control. 

Three critics, belonging to the Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam, who were arrested were given a sentence for jail for “disseminating and making information against Vietnam”. 

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The founder of the association, Pham Chi Dung, was sentenced to 15-year imprisonment and Le Huu Minh Tuan and Nguyen Tuong Thuy was were both jailed for 11 years each. 

The US on Wednesday said that they were “disappointed” with the arrests and sentences. 

“These harsh sentences are the latest in a worrisome trend of arrests and convictions aimed at Vietnamese citizens exercising rights enshrined in Vietnam’s constitution,” a State Department spokesperson said in Washington.

“We urge the Vietnamese government to ensure its actions are consistent with the human rights provisions of its constitution and its international obligations and commitments,” added the spokesperson.

A Vietnam-based lawyer said the critics had accepted writing articles in order to support their democratic rights. However, they denied allegations of spreading misinformation against the government, reported AFP. 

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The court said that the three individuals were in contact with the opponents of the regime before their arrests. 

Emerlynn Gill, deputy regional director for Amnesty International, also criticised the verdict by saying that the act portrays the depth of Vietnam’s censorship. 

Radio Free Asia president Stephen Yates said, “The harsh sentencing of Thuy and two other independent journalists is a blatant assault on basic freedoms and flies in the face of the freedom of expression enshrined in Vietnam’s constitution”, reported AFP. 

According to Amnesty International, over 170 prisoners are currently in Vietnam’s jails for similar acts. 

The Communist Party Congress will take place from January 25 to February 2 in Hanoi.

The Communist Party’s Congress is scheduled from January 25 to February 2 in the state’s capital.