Hanoi has asked the Thai government to extradite Tong to face charges of violating Vietnam's airspace. Tong was arrested after making a forced landing at U-Tapao air base on his return to Thailand.

The dissident argued that the Thai court should not send him to Vietnam, as he dumped the leaflets for political purposes.

"My leaflet dropping mission was peaceful and non-violent and my purpose was for democracy and human rights for the oppressed and exploited people in Vietnam," he said in an open letter to the court.

Tong said: "If I am extradited, it's 100 per cent [certain] that the communist court would charge me for political offences with a life sentence."

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation