On 26 January 1995, the monthly “Tri Thuc Va Cong Nghe”, published by a metal and iron industries association in Vietnam, was suspended until further notice by the Minister of Culture and Information for “modifying the presentation of its cover and publishing articles which do not conform to its principles and readership.” On 21 January, […]
On 26 January 1995, the monthly “Tri Thuc Va Cong Nghe”,
published by a metal and iron industries association in Vietnam,
was suspended until further notice by the Minister of Culture and
Information for “modifying the presentation of its cover and
publishing articles which do not conform to its principles and
readership.”
On 21 January, the Minister of Culture and Information
“temporarily” suspended `Nguoi Ha Noi’ (`The Hanoian’), the
weekly publication of the Art and Literature Association of
Hanoi, for “violating the press law” by publishing an article
“hostile” to the government’s decision to outlaw fireworks as of
1 January this year. According to news wires, in a special
edition published for Tet, the Vietnamese lunar New Year, the
paper reported that fireworks manufacturers were “worried and
sad” about the decree. “Phao”, or firecrackers, are a traditional
part of Vietnamese culture, and the move to outlaw one of the
country’s best loved traditions has triggered an intense public
debate.
In the directive suspending publication, the culture ministry
ordered the paper to draw up a “self-criticism” admitting the
responsibility of its editor and that of other staff members.
Recommended Action
Please write to the Vietnamese authorities:
and that no sanctions be inflicted upon their journalists
Appeals To
His Excellency Do Muoi
Secretary General
The Vietnamese Communist Party
Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Fax: +84 42 59 205
