Vietnamese prosecutors have accused 18 members of a little-known "reactionary" group of plotting to overthrow the communist government, official media reported Thursday. Police said they arrested the leader and 17 other members in February after a series of raids on the group's secret rural command centre in Phu Yen province. They have been in detention ever since.
Prosecutors initially said the 18 men were being investigated for "abusing freedom and democratic rights to violate state interests", a lesser charge that carries a maximum of seven years in prison. But group leader Phan Van Thu and the others have since admitted to a charge of aiming to "overthrow the regime", the Phu Yen local government newspaper reported on its website, quoting an official.