Heavy sentences against Vietnamese journalists send chilling message: UN experts
The Special Rapporteurs expressed particular concern that the
journalists had been charged under Article 117 of the Penal Code for offences
related to “propaganda against the State”.
OHCHR | 15-01-2021
UN human
rights experts said today that the heavy sentences handed down
against three Vietnamese journalists and human
rights defenders, just weeks ahead of a key meeting of the ruling
Communist Party, sends a chilling message to human
rights defenders and those working in the media. "The
sentences given to Pham
Chi Dung, Nguyen
Tuong Thuy and Le
Huu Minh Tuan are part of a rising trend in prosecutions, arbitrary
detention, reprisals, ill-treatment and unfair trials targeting independent
journalists, bloggers, pro-democracy activists and human
rights defenders in Viet Nam," UN Special Rapporteurs said. "Coming
just weeks ahead of the National Congress of the Communist Party, the
convictions and long sentences are not only a blatant suppression of independent
journalism but also a clear attempt to create a chilling effect among those
willing to criticise the government." Congress
sets the country's key policies for the next five years. Pham Chi
Dung, the founder of Independent Journalist Association of Viet
Nam (IAJVN), was arrested on 21 November 2019, 11 days after signing
a letter urging the European Union to delay the approval of the EU-Vietnam Free
Trade Agreement until Vietnam improved its human
rights record. Nguyen
Tuong Thuy and Le
Huu Minh Tuan, Vice-Chair and Member of the IAJVN, were arrested on
23 May 2020 and 12 June 2020 respectively, after they published commentaries on
democracy and advocated for freedom of expression. On 5 January 2021, Mr Dung
was sentenced to 15 years in jail, and the other two were given 11-year terms. The
Special Rapporteurs expressed particular concern that the journalists had been
charged under Article 117 of the Penal Code for offences related to "propaganda
against the State". "We are
deeply disturbed at the continued use of Article 117 of the Penal Code which is
overly broad and appears to be aimed at silencing those who seek to exercise
their human right to freely express their views and share information with
others," the human
rights experts said. "Although
the Government of Vietnam has said that it only prosecutes and puts on trial
those breaking the law, it is clear that Article 117 is not in line with the
international human
rights obligations of Vietnam and should be revised," they added. They
called for the immediate and unconditional release of Pham
Chi Dung, Nguyen
Tuong Thuy and Le Huu Minh Tuan. They also called for the release of
all others currently detained for exercising their right to freedom of
expression, such as Le Anh Hung, another IJAVN member and until his arrest in
July 2018 a prominent contributor to the Voice of America Vietnamese service. The
Special Rapporteurs are in contact with the authorities on this matter.
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