Assaulted reporter prosecuted for “inciting public disorder”

 

VNRN - August 13, 2015

A reporter for a mainstream newspaper who was beaten up by police in June is believed to have been charged with “inciting public disorder”.

Tong Van Dat, a reporter for the Tuoi Tre Thu Do [Capital City’s Youth], was beaten by police using electric shock batons on June 18. He said he was trying to film traffic police taking bribes when he was attacked.

The assault happened just three days before “Revolutionary Press Day” when the role of the media is supposed to be celebrated.  The newspaper’s editors have made no public comment on his indictment.

One was quoted as saying that Dat was not a staff reporter but just a “collaborator” for the newspaper. The implication appears to be that Dat was a part-time employee and may not expect legal support from the newspaper.

The police involved in the original incident said they had been on duty when Dat started to film them. They said he was wearing sportswear and appeared to be drunk.

A journalist working for mainstream media told Vietnam Right Now on condition of anonymity that Dat had been attempting to film corrupt police at the time although it had not been an official assignment for the newspaper. He said he was not aware of any evidence the reporter had been drunk.

The Tuoi Tre Thu Dong and other mainstream media agencies have not reported the case.

 

Vietnam Human Rights Network
[Home] [About us] [Bills of Rights] [Documents] [Human Rights news] [Forum] [Join] [Downloads] [Links]