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Image source, Pham Doan Trang
Pham Doan Trang
The action of the Vietnamese government to arrest independent journalist and activist Pham Doan Trang on October 6, 2020, “went against” international commitments and the country’s laws, some comments said. with BBC News Vietnamese round table on Thursday 8th October.
From Taipei, Taiwan, lawyer Trinh Huu Long, editor-in-chief of Journalism Law told the BBC:
“In my opinion, the nature of the arrest and this case with Pham Doan Trang is not much to comment on. It is a violation of human rights worthy of condemnation and the Vietnamese government goes against its own laws, its Constitutions and international conventions. who have subscribed, they are required.
“Go against his very solemn statements in many national and international forums, in many places, even at the negotiating table with other countries.”
Are you already used to being criticized?
From Leeds, UK, freelance journalist and former television director Song Chi commented:
“Through this incident, you can see that the current Vietnamese government is not afraid of international condemnations, criticism of the United States, etc.
“The reason is that they already know that this time the United States is, for example, very busy with so many issues like Covid-19, or the presidential elections … so there will certainly not be a measure or action. Any strong movement.
“And if it is a blatant criticism, I think that this Vietnamese state is used to being criticized, so they are not afraid.
And the second point why the arrest was carried out before the XIII Congress, in my opinion the reason is because obviously before a certain event in Vietnam, an important event, measures are always taken. that’s often the case. “
“Dong Tam could be one of the direct reasons why Doan Equip’s shield was captured.”
Prioritize political stability?
From Hanoi, Associate Professor Pham Quy Tho, Public Policy Analyst, added:
“Looking at the situation from within the country, I find that before such big events, people often prioritize political stability, rather than haggling with the US or with a certain country on a Something, like on trade, human rights or to attract attention.
“It is speculation, and associated with a power struggle, I see no evidence, it is difficult to identify a faction, or an expression of power of a certain character in the tension of the transfer of power and the work of the Party Congress personnel” .
Also from Hanoi, just before this panel discussion, a visiting principal investigator from the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies (Iseas, Singapore), Dr. Ha Hoang Hop made his observations to the BBC:
“The police arrested Ms. Pham Doan Trang under section 88 of the 1999 criminal law and section 117 of the 2015 criminal law, which begs the question: what is the anti-state, what is the anti-socialist state Vietnam? What is chemistry?
“For people, the media is a civil right and also a political or economic right recognized by the Vietnamese constitution, so in my opinion these two laws do not meet the criteria to be called law.
“The arrest and subsequent proceedings demonstrated and will not demonstrate justice, the rule of law and human rights. Citizens who express their different views are often accused of opposition, and then some were arrested and jailed, considered a hostile forces.
“This is the first challenge for Vietnamese citizens. Then, it will challenge international law, it will challenge the basis of the rule of law, it will challenge the basic values of democracy and human rights.”
Arrested for ‘anti-state’
On October 7, on the side of the government and the Ministry of Public Security, Major General To An Xo, Head of the Office of the Ministry of Public Security, informed the country’s media that the Hanoi Police Investigation Agency had processed the case with her. Pham Doan Trang to investigate complaints of propaganda against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, according to article 88 of the Penal Code of 1999 and the crime of Elaborating, possessing, disseminating or propagating information and documents articles intended to combat the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Article 117 of the Penal Code of 2015.
Mr. Xo said that on October 7, the Hanoi prosecution approved the procedural decision.
Ms. Trang will be transferred to Hanoi to serve the investigation, according to police.
“In the process of arrest, search, the Investigative Security Agency seized some documents, equipment, documents related to the case,” added the Soviet general.
Independent journalist and activist Pham Doan Trang was arrested on the closing day of the two-day human rights dialogue between Vietnam and the United States, October 6-7, 2020.
Also on Wednesday, the website of the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security added about the activist’s arrest:
“” The Hanoi People’s Prosecutor’s Office has issued a decision approving the decisions of the Hanoi Police Investigative Security Agency for the accused Pham Thi Doan Trang. Currently, the Hanoi Police Investigation Agency continues to investigate in accordance with the law, “confirmed the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security.
