By Brian Lanciault
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnamese police arrested Pham Viet Dao, a prominent internet activist and blogger, yesterday for “abusing democratic freedoms” according to the Ministry of Public Security website. Dao has long been an aggressive critic of the one-party, communist government.
Dao has historically been critical of the state-run media industry in Vietnam, stating in a seminar last year that social media must “make up for the shortcomings and handicapped official media in the country.” He stated that with the advent of the internet and its rapidly increasing popularity, “individuals and bloggers have become journalists.”
Dao is a former government official and long-time member of the Vietnam Writers Association. He ran a website that posted articles, written by Dao, that criticized government leaders and officials. Dao had recently been vocal on several sensitive issues, including the Vietnamese government’s handling of China’s policy regarding the South China Sea, and the troubled economy. Since Dao’s arrest on Thursday, the website has been inoperative and locked down by the government.
Over the last three years, perceived Chinese aggression in the South China Sea have sparked extensive protesting and rallying in Vietnam. Activists were initially tolerated by the government, however recent demonstrations, which more aggressively dissented against the government, have been shut down by security forces.
The government has also come under intense pressure facing a stagnant economy. According to one economist, Nguyen Quang A, Dao’s arrest was an attempt by the government to send a message to the country to “shut up” and to put an end to internet-based criticism of the regime. Dao’s arrest came just after the arrest of another prominent internet activist, Truong Duy Nhat, on May 26 on similar charges. So far this year 38 bloggers have been arrested on charges of “abusing democratic freedoms” and some 46 activists have been detained and sentenced for similar “anti-state” activities.
One government minister has issued a statement regarding internet use and the recent crackdown on internet-based dissent. At an address to the National Assembly, Nguyen Bac Son, Minister of Information and Communications, praised the benefits of the internet in Vietnam, but warned against its negative effects as well, stating that “recently, opportunist elements in the country and the overseas hostile forces have abused the Internet to spread information that sabotaged the country, distorted the policy of our Party and state.”
Neither Nhat nor Dao have faced trial yet. Bloggers arrested on similar charges have received as much as twelve years imprisonment. The government says that no one has been jailed for peacefully expressing their views, only those that have broken the law.
For more information, please see:
Reuters — Vietnamese police arrest anti-government blogger — 14 June 2013
BBC News — Vietnam arrests prominent blogger for ‘abusing freedoms’ — 14 June 2013
Wall Street Journal —Vietnam Arrests Prominent Blogger — 14 June 2013
Times of India — Vietnam detains second blogger in weeks — 14 June 2013
