3 Are Sentenced in Vietnam

U.S. Citizens in Terrorism Case to Be Freed by Year's End

Thuong Nguyen "Cuc" Foshee of Orlando smiles after a Vietnamese court sentenced her to 15 months, meaning she should be sent home next month. (By David Longstreath -- Associated Press)

After a one-day trial, a Vietnamese court yesterday sentenced three U.S. citizens accused of terrorism to relatively short prison terms, which, including time served awaiting trial, ensures they will be released and deported by the end of the year.

The case had complicated the White House's efforts to pass a major trade deal with Vietnam before President Bush arrives in Hanoi next Friday for an Asian economic summit. The president has named the legislation -- which would give the two countries their closest trade ties since the end of the Vietnam War -- as one of his priorities for the lame-duck Congress that convenes on Monday.

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) had blocked the trade bill from coming to the floor of the Senate until one of the U.S. citizens, a Republican activist from Orlando, was released. In a statement yesterday, Martinez indicated that he was still not satisfied with the resolution of the case against Thuong Nguyen "Cuc" Foshee and would continue blocking the trade bill.

"I will continue to do everything in my power to expedite Mrs. Foshee's release and safe return to U.S. soil. As that has not yet occurred, I continue to use every tool at my disposal," Martinez said, referring to the "hold" he placed on the bill. "I feel the Administration is working diligently and at the highest levels of the State Department to resolve this issue and remain hopeful the Vietnamese government will do the right thing."

Vietnam, the fastest-growing market for U.S. products in Asia, recently was accepted as the 150th member of the World Trade Organization. A bill granting Vietnam permanent normal trade relations is necessary for U.S. companies to benefit from the low tariffs that Vietnam will introduce as a WTO member.

Seven defendants, including four Vietnamese nationals, were accused of plotting to broadcast anti-communist radio messages under the direction of an anti-government group based in California. Vietnam considers the group -- called the Government of Free Vietnam -- to be a terrorist organization. One member of the group, Vietnamese-born U.S. resident Nguyen Huu Chanh, has been suspected of planning bomb attacks of Vietnamese embassies. Chanh has been detained in South Korea but a Seoul court has refused to extradite him to Vietnam.

Foshee, 58, and the other defendants were arrested in September 2005, but they were charged only after Martinez's efforts to block the bill received wide attention.

The State Department had watched the case closely and had urged Vietnam to charge the defendants and then grant them a speedy and fair trial.

"We are pleased to report Ms. Thuong Nguyen 'Cuc' Foshee and two other American citizens will be returning home to the United States soon," said Kurtis Cooper, a State Department spokesman. "We are in contact with the government of Vietnam to arrange their return as soon as possible."

Foshee's daughter, Elizabeth McCausland, said that because of a misunderstanding, she was first told yesterday that the court had ordered her mother deported immediately and found it "heartbreaking" to discover Foshee would need to stay in Vietnam another month. "I'm glad that there is a resolution and that she has some idea of when she will be home," McCausland said. "But I was hoping she would be home sooner."

The defendants admitted they broke Vietnamese law but denied any link to terrorism. Foshee told the court: "I very much regret my participation in Nguyen Huu Chanh's organization. I had lived outside of my country for nearly 40 years, so I didn't understand my country and the laws in Vietnam."

McCausland, a lawyer, said that Vietnam defines "terrorism" broadly to include anyone who opposes the government. "It's hard to read that your mom is convicted of terrorism," she said.

Foshee was born in Vietnam and came to the United States after marrying a U.S. Army Special Forces master sergeant. She was active in protests in the United States against the communist government of Vietnam.

Vu Phi Long, president of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court, sentenced the defendants to 15 months with credit for time served, relatively light sentences for charges that can sometimes result in the death penalty. Long also ordered the U.S. citizens to be deported within 10 days of completing their sentences. Prosecutors had sought sentences of 18 to 24 months.

Long told reporters that he was aware the trial was taking place shortly before the summit and just as Congress was poised to debate the trade bill. "We carefully considered the case before announcing the verdict to make it suitable for the present situation," he said.