Joint report on the situation of Vietnamese journalists: A report that does not respect the truth (part 1)

BBC, RFA and foreign reactionary organizations simultaneously reported on the Joint Report on the Situation of Vietnamese Journalists by the three organizations Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Freedom House and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFK) sent to the United Nations. This report gave a biased and untruthful assessment, claiming that journalists in Vietnam are often arrested or imprisoned. More maliciously, they published the report on November 2, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, before Vietnam's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to take place in Geneva in April-May 2024.

PART 1: Human rights organizations protect violators of Vietnamese law

Journalists in Vietnam face widespread threats and abuse, and are frequently arrested or imprisoned for their reporting and commentary, the joint report said. According to CPJ, Vietnam is one of the world’s most prolific jailers of journalists, with 21 in prison as of December 1, 2022. In the first half of 2023, at least 20 journalists, activists, and human rights defenders were arrested. Some were placed under house arrest, often on national holidays or during visits by foreign officials.

Graphics: MANH HUNG

Reading these figures, one cannot help but be surprised and many questions arise. Which organizations are CPJ, Freedom House and RFK Human Rights that are trying to protect those who abuse democratic freedoms and violate Vietnamese law? Where did CPJ get these figures from? Is it possible that these organizations do not know Vietnamese law, do not understand and cannot distinguish between journalists and those who use social networks to express their opinions and personal views?

About CPJ, Freedom House and RFK Human Rights

CPJ is an independent non-profit organization, founded in 1981, headquartered in New York. The initial criteria of this committee is to promote press freedom and protect the rights of journalists around the world through diplomatic channels. Freedom House is also a non-governmental organization, largely funded by the US Government, headquartered in Washington DC. According to the statement, the purpose of Freedom House is to conduct research and support democracy, political freedom and human rights. RFK Human Rights is a non-profit organization founded in 1968, also headquartered in Washington DC. This organization makes a statement supporting human rights issues around the world. However, over the years, the information that these organizations have provided regarding many countries, including Vietnam, is not true to the actual situation and has negative political motives. As for CPJ, public opinion has accused it of being manipulated since 2008 to serve its own political agenda, including activities that distort the situation of press freedom in Vietnam.

Are there 21 "journalists" in prison?

In the list of 21 characters called "journalists" according to the Joint Report, there are many familiar names such as Truong Chau Huu Danh, Pham Doan Trang, Nguyen Thanh Nha, Nguyen Phuoc Trung Bao, Le Manh Ha, Pham Chi Dung, Le Huu Minh Tuan, Nguyen Tuong Thuy... Let me repeat the "excerpts" of some of these "journalists".

Truong Chau Huu Danh and Nguyen Phuoc Trung Bao, Doan Kien Giang, Nguyen Thanh Nha, and Le The Thang were sentenced to 14 years and 6 months in prison for "Abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the rights and legitimate interests of organizations and individuals". Truong Chau Huu Danh and this group and some individuals created the clean newspaper fanpage, the clean newspaper group, and the BS Chanel YouTube channel to write and post articles and videos on various topics to share on Facebook. Truong Chau Huu Danh himself also has a Facebook and a fanpage. These "journalists" have taken advantage of freedom of speech and freedom of the press to write and post unverified and untrue information on social networks, causing a part of the public to misunderstand the truth, creating conditions for elements to take advantage of and participate in negative and provocative comments. They even lured a part of the people with distorted perceptions to participate in opposing the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's policies and laws. At the trial, Truong Chau Huu Danh and his accomplices admitted their illegal acts.

BBC News Vietnamese reports on the Joint Report of CPJ, Freedom House and RFK Human Rights

Pham Doan Trang (real name Pham Thi Doan Trang) is one of the "democrats" praised by Viet Tan and other reactionary organizations, a person with strong opposing thoughts and actions. This subject is serving a prison sentence for "Propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam". Trang used to be a reporter and contributor to a number of newspapers and was disciplined and forced to quit her job for leaving the country without permission. Trang is one of the founders and maintainers of the Free Publishing House - a disguised civil organization, operating illegally; establishing and operating websites such as Luat Khoa magazine, Phamdoantrang.com, The Vietnamese magazine... Trang also wrote and illegally distributed many articles and books with bad political content such as Media Handbook, From Facebook to the Street, Undemocratic Elections in Vietnam, Popular Politics, Prison Handbook... defaming and distorting the political system, the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws; Distorting the situation of democracy and human rights in Vietnam; instructing on how to act against the government; calling for protests and overthrowing the regime in Vietnam.

Le Manh Ha was sentenced to 8 years in prison for “Making, storing, disseminating or propagating information, documents and items against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” and 5 years of probation in the locality after completing his prison sentence. Ha himself created, managed and used the YouTube channel Tiếng Dân TV Lê Hà, the Facebook fanpage Dân oan Thủy điện, Dân oan và Nhà tranh to post, comment and share videos and articles with content that distorts the history of the struggle for national liberation, the achievements of the revolution, defames the people's government, speaks ill of the socialist regime in our country; distorts and denies the leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam, demands to change the political regime of Vietnam; has words that insult President Ho Chi Minh and the leaders of the Party and State, spreads fabricated news causing confusion among the people...

In the list of detained “journalists” according to the Joint Report, CPJ clearly states that Truong Chau Huu Danh belongs to the Clean Newspaper organization; Pham Doan Trang belongs to the Luat Khoa magazine and Vietnam magazine (Luat Khoa, The Vietnamese); Le Manh Ha belongs to the Voice of the People TV. Pham Chi Dung, Le Huu Minh Tuan... are freelancers.

According to Articles 14 and 16 of the Press Law 2016, press agencies are the mouthpieces of agencies and organizations operating legally under the provisions of Vietnamese law; Clause 1, Article 25 stipulates that journalists are press workers who are granted press cards; Clause 3, Article 25 stipulates that journalists have the obligation to “Provide truthful information about the situation of the country and the world in accordance with the interests of the country and the people; reflect the legitimate opinions and aspirations of the people. Protect the viewpoints, guidelines and policies of the Party; policies and laws of the State; detect, propagate and protect positive factors; fight against wrongful thoughts and behaviors”.

According to the 2016 Press Law, 21 people are being detained for violating Vietnamese law as mentioned above. Some people who used to work at press agencies have been disciplined and forced to quit their jobs, and the Vietnam Journalists Association has expelled them. Some people work freelance or set up and manage accounts on social networking applications and call themselves "journalists".

It is a pity that NGOs like CPJ, Freedom House, JFK Human Rights are confused and do not distinguish between journalists and those who speak nonsense on social networks. If there are people who used to work for the press who are punished by the authorities, they are those who violate the Press Law. These people are arrested not because they work as journalists, but because they violate the law, spread fake news, bad news, and violate the political security and social order and safety of Vietnam.

LAST PART: People who need to re-read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

PHAM HOANG - HUYEN TRAN

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