In Vietnam there is no such thing as religious prisoners or political prisoners.

That was the assertion of Major General Nguyen Van Ky, Deputy Chief of the Standing Office of the Government Human Rights Steering Committee, when answering questions related to a number of subjects taking advantage of democratic freedom to violate Vietnamese law.

Major General Nguyen Van Ky, Deputy Chief of the Office of the Government Human Rights Steering Committee. (Source: Government Human Rights Steering Committee)

On the occasion of the United Nations International Day Against Torture (June 26), the Tom Lantos Human Rights Committee of the US House of Representatives requested that Vietnam release four cases: Pham Doan Trang, Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Y Yich and Y Pum Bya.

Responding to the press on this issue, Major General Nguyen Van Ky affirmed: "In Vietnam, there is no such thing as religious prisoners or political prisoners as some organizations and individuals have argued in recent times."

Right person, right crime

First of all, it must be affirmed that all Vietnamese citizens are equal before the law. No one is discriminated against in political, civil, economic, cultural and social life. Equality before the law is one of the basic principles, institutionalized in many national documents.

Citizens have the right to freedom and democracy but within the framework of the law. Not only in Vietnam, citizens in any country must respect the law. Respecting and complying with the law is also respecting the rights and obligations that the law gives to that citizen.

Any act of violating the law, taking advantage of personal freedom to oppose the State, infringing on national interests, infringing on the rights and interests of others... deserves condemnation and needs to be handled appropriately.

According to Major General Nguyen Van Ky, the cases of Pham Doan Trang, Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Y Yich and Y Pum Bya were all handled by Vietnamese authorities in the right way and for the right crime. These subjects took advantage of democratic freedoms to seriously infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of individuals, and violated specific laws. The process of arrest, investigation, prosecution and trial of the subjects all ensured the correct procedures and provisions of the law, and were extremely strict and objective.

Therefore, the Deputy Chief of the Standing Office of the Government Human Rights Steering Committee believes that the US House of Representatives' Tom Lantos Human Rights Committee's request to release the above subjects is an interference in Vietnam's internal affairs, inconsistent with international law, has no legal basis and is completely worthless.

Defendant Pham Thi Doan Trang was sentenced to 9 years in prison for propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the trial on December 14, 2021. (Source: CAND)

Undeniable achievement

Our Party and State have always been consistent in the policy of “respecting, ensuring, protecting the rights, powers and obligations of citizens” (according to the Documents of the 13th Party Congress). All decisions originate from the people; all development achievements are aimed at ensuring the best human rights.

Over the past time, Vietnam has continuously achieved many achievements in ensuring human rights. These achievements have been widely publicized by Vietnam and recognized and highly appreciated by many countries in the world.

However, hostile forces still often distort and slander Vietnam, especially focusing on freedom of speech, press, and freedom of religion and belief.

With the freedom of speech and press, practice has proven that the Vietnamese Party and State always create favorable conditions for the people's freedom of speech and press to be exercised in accordance with the provisions of law.

This is reflected in the fact that Vietnam is a country with the highest number of Internet users and social networking sites in the world. As of early 2024, there were 78.44 million Internet users in Vietnam, when the Internet penetration rate reached 79.1%. Vietnam had 72.70 million social network users in January 2024, equivalent to 73.3% of the total population.

Statistics from the Ministry of Information and Communications show that by 2023, the country will have 6 key multimedia agencies, 127 newspaper agencies, 671 magazine agencies, and 72 radio and television agencies. There will be about 41,000 personnel working in the press sector, a 6-fold increase compared to 2000.

Every citizen has the right to speak and discuss life issues. These are the clearest and most convincing proofs that freedom of speech and freedom of the press in Vietnam are guaranteed.

Regarding freedom of belief and religion, the Party and State of Vietnam consistently respect the people's freedom of belief and religion; every citizen has the right to follow or not to follow any belief or religion.

Vietnam currently has 40 organizations belonging to 16 religions recognized and granted registration for their activities by the State. The total number of religious followers is currently about 26.5 million, accounting for 27% of the population; more than 54,000 religious dignitaries; more than 135,000 officials; more than 29,000 places of worship; thousands of points and groups granted registration for concentrated religious activities.

It is an undeniable fact that in Vietnam, no one has been sentenced to prison for exercising the right to freedom of speech or freedom of the press, nor has any individual or religious organization been prohibited from operating in accordance with the law. All cases that have been criminally prosecuted have been due to violations of the law, seriously infringing upon the rights and interests of the State, as well as organizations and individuals, causing public outrage.

The arrest and criminal prosecution of those who use freedom of speech, press, and religion to sabotage the Party and State and cause political instability is necessary and in accordance with the law.

Therefore, the intervention of organizations and individuals demanding the release of certain subjects is an intentional denial of Vietnam's achievements in ensuring human rights, intentionally turning black into white to encourage these subjects, aiming to slander and distort Vietnam's violations of democracy and human rights, and lowering Vietnam's reputation in the international arena.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/o-viet-nam-khong-co-cai-goi-la-tu-nhan-ton-giao-tu-nhan-chinh-tri-279057.html