Write to name the truth.

His groundbreaking investigative series published in the People's Army Newspaper in 1987 not only marked the first time his pen reached the rank of Minister, but also powerfully ignited the flame of commitment to revolutionary journalism during the Doi Moi (Renovation) period. For him, writing was not just about reporting news; he wrote to name the truth, awaken public opinion, and pave the way for "urgent tasks" to be implemented.

1. In the Vietnamese journalism scene of the 1980s and 1990s, Tran Dinh Ba emerged as a pioneer and a courageous writer in the fight against corruption and malpractice. His name is associated with incisive investigative reports that shook an entire system that was once thought impenetrable.

With a glorious past recounted by his predecessors, I imagined that journalist Tran Dinh Ba must have a different appearance in real life. But when I met him, I had a different feeling. It turned out that a journalist who had shaken society with his incisive investigative reports didn't possess that power in his outward appearance. At his simple house nestled in a small alley on Doi Can Street, he greeted me at the top of the stairs with a gentle smile, his gray hair and warm Nghe An accent.

Journalist Tran Dinh Ba was born in 1944 in the hilly, semi-mountainous area of Thanh Long commune, Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An province, into a family with a rich revolutionary tradition. He proudly stated that, even during the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement, his family had enough Party members to form a Party branch. His father was the head of the Red Peasant Association in the locality, and his mother, for a long time, sheltered cadres and organized the printing of leaflets for the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement. Furthermore, she led a demonstration carrying a flag to destroy the Thanh Chuong district headquarters during the revolutionary high tide of 1930-1931.

In 1969, Tran Dinh Ba attended the first Journalism and Publishing course at the Central Propaganda School (now the Academy of Journalism and Communication). In 1972, while still a final-year student, he was assigned to Quang Tri as a war correspondent, living, writing, and fighting like a soldier amidst the "red summer" of the war. After the Paris Agreement, during the dry season of 1973, he continued to be present in the Southeast battlefield as a reporter for the Southern Liberation Army Newspaper, closely following battles from Cu Chi, Trang Bang, Suoi Ngo to the outskirts of Saigon. He even went to Ba Ria - Long Khanh and into the Sac Forest to write about the special forces soldiers and the glorious achievements of the people and army of the Southeast region. In the spring of 1975, he accompanied a unit advancing to liberate Saigon.

After the war ended, the Liberation Army Newspaper of South Vietnam completed its historical mission, and journalist Tran Dinh Ba transferred to work at the People's Army Newspaper, remaining with the newspaper until his retirement in 2002 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

2. In the early years of the Doi Moi (Renovation) period, when society was still wavering between old and new ways of thinking, Vietnamese journalism also faced a major turning point. It was at that time that the first "wind" of change came from the political system. Immediately after General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh published a series of articles titled "Things That Need to Be Done Immediately," the issue of combating corruption and negative practices was openly and fiercely discussed. From then on, many reporters from the People's Army Newspaper, including Tran Dinh Ba, embarked on a difficult and dangerous journey: the journey of fighting corruption with their pens.

The first article that journalist Tran Dinh Ba called "uncompromising" was his confrontation with a high-ranking official regarding public corruption, a battle he likened to "riding on the back of a tiger, but the rope is in someone else's hands." When the article was blocked from publication, he found strength and courage in the Party's documents, especially the series of articles "Things That Need to Be Done Immediately" by General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh. He wrote a letter directly to the General Secretary, and on July 2, 1987, he received a response from the General Secretary's Office, granting the Editor-in-Chief full authority to decide if the article "had good, accurate, truthful content and had a constructive effect."

Following his article, considered the "opening shot" in the anti-corruption journalistic campaign during the Doi Moi (Renovation) period, Tran Dinh Ba continued to devote his efforts to major cases with significant topicality and widespread impact. Headlines such as "Using Hanoi Zoo land to contribute to business capital - Stop," "Thang Long Aquarium - Painful Issues," "5 Million USD Burned in a Day," "State Secrets Sold," etc., appeared frequently in newspapers, all signed by Tran Dinh Ba, a reporter for the People's Army Newspaper. Later, he delved deeper, touching upon the most painful layers of society at the time. Investigative reports like "A Joint Venture or an Octopus's Tentacles," "Legal Land Seizure," "What's Seen in Vietnamese Civil Aviation," "National Public Land Sold Recklessly," etc., continued to emerge, like powerful blows to the hard soil of silence, cover-ups, and compromises...

Even after his retirement, he never abandoned his writing career. On the contrary, Tran Dinh Ba still displayed a sharp, incisive, and energetic writing style. He was the first to expose the network of high-ranking officials involved in the Năm Cam case – a case that shocked the entire country at the time. This was followed by a series of insightful and questioning articles such as: "Even the most serious crimes can be solved by clever cover-ups" (regarding irregularities at the Uong Bi Power Plant Project), "SABECO - Stories that seem like jokes," "Who aided, condoned, and covered up Vinaconex's wrongdoings?"... These articles are clear evidence of the relentless fighting spirit of a journalist-soldier, a professional conscience that refused to back down.

3. To many of his contemporaries, Tran Dinh Ba was a difficult person to approach. He rarely shared anything, and even less often revealed his "strategies and strategies." But those who were given even vague hints from him were inevitably astonished and impressed by his meticulous, scientific, and decisive calculations. He did not deny that writing articles exposing corruption was one of the most arduous areas of journalism. Evidence, documents, sources – everything had to start from scratch, and to uncover the truth, journalists had to utilize all their connections, gather information from multiple sources, but most importantly, maintain the trust of their readers and uphold objectivity in their understanding of the issue. "A journalist who lies cannot survive," he asserted.

He had also been "tempted" to remain silent, and had witnessed many colleagues weighing the "gains and losses" before publishing an article. But he remained steadfast in his principle: "Information must be accurate, analysis must be reasonable and compassionate, and the motives must be constructive. If we can do that, readers and authorities will support us." Some officials, after his series of articles, had to stand trial. But instead of gloating, he felt sad. "One night I burst into tears. I cried thinking of their parents, their wives and children - those who were innocent but had to bear the pain and shame..."

It's often said that journalism against corruption is like walking a tightrope. One wrong step can cost you your career, your reputation, and even the safety of yourself and your family. Tran Dinh Ba understands this better than anyone. But he continues his journey, steadfastly, quietly, and persistently. Directly pointing out wrongdoing is not just a writing style, but a way of life. For him, the ethics of a writer don't lie in deference or in bending the rules to protect oneself, but in honesty with the truth, objectivity in the issue, and, at its core, a desire to contribute to building a better society. "Even when writing articles against corruption, I don't aim to overthrow anyone, much less to satisfy my anger. I only want to clarify the nature of things – right is right, wrong is wrong – and the people have the right to know that," he once confided.

In an era where many are easily led astray by the allure of fame and sweet temptations, Tran Dinh Ba chose to be a beacon of light – even knowing that darkness still lies ahead. It was not an easy choice. But it is thanks to journalists like him that society still has hope for truth, justice, and a conscientious pen.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/viet-de-goi-ten-su-that-706103.html