Mr. Kim Quoc Hoa, former editor-in-chief of Nguoi Cao Tuoi newspaper
Mr. Hoa, 70, may face imprisonment of up to seven years, according to the Penal Code.
By Vu Quoc Ngu, November 02, 2015
The Investigation Agency under Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security have proposed the Supreme People’s Procuracy prosecute Mr. Kim Quoc Hoa, former editor-in-chief of outspoken Nguoi Cao Tuoi (The Elderly) newspaper for “abusing freedom and democracy to infringe upon the interests of the state” under Article 258 of the country’s Penal Code.
After the investigation started in March, the Investigation Agency found that as the editor-in-chief of the mainstream print and online newspaper, Mr. Hoa is responsible for 23 articles which are “incorrect, groundless, containing non-objective facts,” according to the Nong Thon Ngay Nay newspaper.
Mr. Hoa, 70, may face imprisonment of up to seven years, according to the Penal Code.
Mr. Hoa, who was once nominated for the national prize for excellent job, was fired from his post on Feb. 9 by the Ministry of Information and Communications, which also shut down the newspaper’s website for “carrying complaints and petitions, along with baseless analysis, which led to fabricated information” in violation of Vietnam’s journalism law.
In March, the police searched Mr. Hoa’s private house and office but he was allowed to stay in his house while the investigation was underway.
The Nguoi Cao Tuoi newspaper had been one of outspoken outlets in Vietnam thanks to its numerous articles on alleged corruption, including those related to the unbelievable wealth made by bribery of Tran Van Truyen, a former head of the government Inspectorate.
The newspaper had uncovered or shed light on around 2,500 corruption cases at state agencies in Vietnam, from village to central levels over the past seven years, Mr. Hoa said in his interview to foreign media in late 2014.
Corruption is a systemic issue in the one-party Vietnam. The communist government has vowed to make all efforts to deal with it.
Both the ruling communist party and its government have publicly encouraged individuals to actively take part in the fight against corruption, according to international financial institutions.
Even the government promises to give large rewards for those who help state agencies unveil corruption cases.
Meanwhile, in its report covering the period between June 2014 and May 2015, the U.S. non-government organization Freedom House said Vietnam remains one of the world’s largest prisons for bloggers, with 29 netizens imprisoned and at least eight Vietnamese bloggers were arrested or prosecuted under Article 258. Among them are Nguyen Huu Vinh, the founder of AnhBaSam news website and Mr. Hoa.
The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said that independent news providers in Vietnam are subject to enhanced Internet surveillance, draconian directives, waves of arrests and sham trials in its annual Press Freedom Index released in December last year.
Vietnam has intensified crackdown against local dissidents and human rights activists ahead of the National Congress of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam scheduled in early 2016.
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November 2, 2015
Vietnam Police Propose Prosecution for Outspoken Former Newspaper Editor
by Nhan Quyen • [Human Rights], Kim Quoc Hoa
Mr. Kim Quoc Hoa, former editor-in-chief of Nguoi Cao Tuoi newspaper
By Vu Quoc Ngu, November 02, 2015
The Investigation Agency under Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security have proposed the Supreme People’s Procuracy prosecute Mr. Kim Quoc Hoa, former editor-in-chief of outspoken Nguoi Cao Tuoi (The Elderly) newspaper for “abusing freedom and democracy to infringe upon the interests of the state” under Article 258 of the country’s Penal Code.
After the investigation started in March, the Investigation Agency found that as the editor-in-chief of the mainstream print and online newspaper, Mr. Hoa is responsible for 23 articles which are “incorrect, groundless, containing non-objective facts,” according to the Nong Thon Ngay Nay newspaper.
Mr. Hoa, 70, may face imprisonment of up to seven years, according to the Penal Code.
Mr. Hoa, who was once nominated for the national prize for excellent job, was fired from his post on Feb. 9 by the Ministry of Information and Communications, which also shut down the newspaper’s website for “carrying complaints and petitions, along with baseless analysis, which led to fabricated information” in violation of Vietnam’s journalism law.
In March, the police searched Mr. Hoa’s private house and office but he was allowed to stay in his house while the investigation was underway.
The Nguoi Cao Tuoi newspaper had been one of outspoken outlets in Vietnam thanks to its numerous articles on alleged corruption, including those related to the unbelievable wealth made by bribery of Tran Van Truyen, a former head of the government Inspectorate.
The newspaper had uncovered or shed light on around 2,500 corruption cases at state agencies in Vietnam, from village to central levels over the past seven years, Mr. Hoa said in his interview to foreign media in late 2014.
Corruption is a systemic issue in the one-party Vietnam. The communist government has vowed to make all efforts to deal with it.
Both the ruling communist party and its government have publicly encouraged individuals to actively take part in the fight against corruption, according to international financial institutions.
Even the government promises to give large rewards for those who help state agencies unveil corruption cases.
Meanwhile, in its report covering the period between June 2014 and May 2015, the U.S. non-government organization Freedom House said Vietnam remains one of the world’s largest prisons for bloggers, with 29 netizens imprisoned and at least eight Vietnamese bloggers were arrested or prosecuted under Article 258. Among them are Nguyen Huu Vinh, the founder of AnhBaSam news website and Mr. Hoa.
The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said that independent news providers in Vietnam are subject to enhanced Internet surveillance, draconian directives, waves of arrests and sham trials in its annual Press Freedom Index released in December last year.
Vietnam has intensified crackdown against local dissidents and human rights activists ahead of the National Congress of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam scheduled in early 2016.