美国批评越南当局监禁活动人士

The United States is criticizing Vietnam for jailing three activists for up to three three years for obstructing traffic.

The dissidents were arrested earlier this year while riding in a convoy of motorcycles to visit a former political prisoner.

A court in the southern province of Dong Thap on Tuesday found them guilty of "causing a public disorder."

Bui Thi Minh Hang, the most prominent of the three, received three years in jail. Nguyen Thi Thuy Quynh was jailed for two years, while Nguyen Van Minh got a two-and-a-half year sentence.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi says it is "deeply concerned" about the ruling and is alarmed Vietnam is using public disorder laws to silence government critics.

The statement called on Vietnam to immediately and unconditionally release the three activists, along with all other prisoners of conscience.