Members of the Provisional Central Government of Vietnam in exile in the United States stand trial in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Aug. 21, 2018. AP
HANOI, Vietnam — A court in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City has begun the trial of 12 people, including two American citizens, on subversion charges as government authorities step up a crackdown on dissent.
The official Vietnam News Agency said the defendants are accused of attempting to overthrow the government by recruiting members for a U.S.-based exile group called the Provisional Central Government of Vietnam and by engaging in anti-state activities.
Vietnam’s government has labeled the little-known group a terrorist organization.
The news agency said two Vietnam-born American citizens are accused of ordering other members of the group to distribute anti-state leaflets, take over state radio stations to broadcast anti-government messages, and participate in anti-government protests. It said most of the plans were thwarted.
The trial is scheduled to last three days. /ee