From Human Rights Watch
New York – The trial of the blogger Truong Duy Nhat scheduled for March 4, 2014 in Da Nang demonstrates that there is no slackening of the Vietnamese authorities’ determination to target people for peaceful criticism, Human Rights Watch said today.
Truong Duy Nhat. Photo from Tuoi Tre.
In his blog, Truong Duy Nhat has often criticized the government and raised concerns about China’s claims to maritime territory off the Vietnamese coast. He has also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and the Communist Party general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, accusing them of being responsible for what he described as Vietnam’s “political chaos” and “uncontrolled corruption.”
“Truong Duy Nhat’s trial is part of the Vietnamese government’s futile effort to silence the increasingly effervescent community of Vietnamese bloggers,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “Instead of creating another political prisoner, the government should release Truong Duy Nhat and all others who are jailed merely for disagreeing with the government and the party.”
Truong Duy Nhat’s indictment states that his opinions caused people to lose faith in the government and communist party. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.
Truong Duy Nhat, 50, is a former journalist with two official publications. He worked for the police newspaper of Quang Nam-Da Nang province from 1987 to 1995, and for the Dai Doan Ket (Great Unity) newspaper from 1995 to 2011. In 2011, he announced he would no longer report for the authorized media and founded the blog Mot goc nhin khac (Another Point of View).
Read the full story from Human Rights Watch.
