Show trial vs. human rights: the case of Vietnam

Show trial - a legacy from the war in Vietnam when court headquarters did not exist - has existed in this socialist country until now. The initial purpose of show trials was 'bringing justice close to the people' and then legal dissemination and education. However, many mobile court cases in Vietnam throughout the years show violations of the human rights of defendants and relevant parties. More and more Vietnamese experts and practitioners are therefore opposing the show trials. The Communist Party and the state of Vietnam, on the path to building the 'socialist rule of law', also seem supportive of abandoning this controversial trial mode.