Vietnam to try journalists for corruption stories

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Two Vietnamese journalists will go on trial next week for allegedly writing inaccurate stories about one of the country's most high-profile corruption cases, an official said Friday.

Media groups have called for the release of the two journalists, Nguyen Van Hai and Nguyen Viet Chien, saying their arrests will discourage reporting on official wrongdoing.

The two, whose trial in the Hanoi People's Court begins Tuesday, have been charged with "abusing freedom and democracy," an offense that carries a maximum jail sentence of seven years, said Nguyen Viet Hung, the court's chief administrator. The trial could last two days, he said.

Hai and Chien, who work for two of the country's largest newspapers, are known for aggressive reporting on corruption.



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ii7DvNc2Pri3xUJcb6LZENzQvITgD93NLBM80

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There is no freedom without Freedom of the Press...

[marshall]

1. There is extremelyl tight control over the press in Vietnam

I spent three months there last year. People are afraid to speak their mind in private--they certainly back away from telling the truth in public.

[amdezurik]

3. ah the model dumbaya want's for his AmuriKKKa!!

[JonQ]

2. Arresting people who point out corruption for :

"abusing freedom and democracy", that sounds like something out of orwell. You pointed out the flaws in our beloved dictatorship, clearly you hate freedom and democracy.

[marshall]

4. I think they see it as more of a collective freedom

We focus on the individual--they focus on the collective. From their point of view these reporters violated the safety that the government creates for the population.

[JonQ]

5. Collective freedoms aren't freedoms at all

any real rights lay in protecting individuals from the tyranny of government. Saying they have freedoms because the government has decided to protect itself against abuses from its citizens is absurd.

[marshall]

7. I agree, but I was just talking about what I think their point of view is

People live productive fairly happy lives over there. There are a lot more poor people, and even those with steady jobs don't have the "luxuries" most of our working poor enjoy.

[JonQ]

8. I know

I was making a general point, not trying to put words in your mouth.

And I'm not sure how happy they are. I'm skeptical of any reports their government comes out with on the subject for obvious reasons.

[marshall]

9. For them I think happiness is subjective

They realize life is probably better elswhere, most notably in the United States (or so I heard from the people I spoke with) but I think they have carved out a relatively happy life for themselves given the circumstances. They get married, have children, enjoy their family, work like dogs most of the time and enjoy their time off when they can get it.

[tom_paine]

6. It is clarifying to be reminded what real, brutal Classic Totalitarianism is.

It is a reminder that, as awful as it feels inside to be a Free Person who has gone to living as a Subject of Bushie Inverted Totalitarianism, this is still a damned good place to live in, overall.

Well, at least for a little while longer. This economic catastrophe coming gives the Bushies the chance to implement their Police State, which is all ready and legal as Hitler's Enabling Acts, once again all nice and legally voted away by the cowed legislature.

My point is, until that happens, we've got it all over the Vietnamese!

Whoopeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joe Chi Minh]

10. Must have re-learned capitalism pretty fast.