Vietnam

(WAN/IFEX) – The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) has urged Vietnam to allow journalist Doan Viet Hoat to return to his country, saying his release from prison into exile “does not solve the underlying problem of freedom of expression in Vietnam.” **For background to case, see IFEX alerts of 2 September, 28 August, 2 July, […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – International PEN WiPC has confirmed that poet and writer Nguyen Van Thuan was also released in the recent prisoner amnesty in Vietnam to commemorate the country’s National day. **Update to the IFEX alert update of 2 September 1998**

(WiPC/IFEX) – On 28 August 1998 a large-scale prisoner amnesty was announced in Vietnam to mark the 2 September Independence Day. PEN Writers in Prison Committee is able to confirm that the following writers and journalists were included in the amnesty: **For background on Professor Doan Viet Hoat, see IFEX alerts of 28 August, 2 […]

(WAN/IFEX) – WAN welcomed the announcement on 28 August 1998 that Vietnam had amnestied prominent dissident Doan Viet Hoat, the winner of WAN’s 1998 Golden Pen of Freedom award. **For background to case, see IFEX alerts of 2 July and 29 June 1998; 4 November and 29 January 1997; 4 March 1996; and others** “We […]

(WAN/IFEX) – The Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, has personally taken up the case of imprisoned Vietnamese journalist Doan Viet Hoat. **For background to case, see IFEX alerts of 29 June 1998; 4 November and 29 January 1997; 4 March 1996; and others** The UN has informed the World Association of […]

(WAN/IFEX) – The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) has appealed to Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong to release imprisoned journalist and academic Doan Viet Hoat when he grants amnesty to selected prisoners on Vietnam’s National Day. **For further background to case, see IFEX alerts of 4 November and 29 January 1997; 4 March 1996; and […]

(PEN Canada/CCPJ/IFEX) – The Free Vietnam Alliance, PEN Canada and the Canadian Committee to Protect Journalists have joined together to call for solidarity for all those imprisoned in Vietnam for exercising their right to freedom of expression. They ask supporters to sign the statement and send their signatures to the Free Vietnam Alliance in France, […]

(WAN/IFEX) – WAN issued the following press release on 7 May 1998: **Updates IFEX alerts of 25 January 1996, 4 March 1996, 29 January 1997 and 4 November 1997** The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) on Thursday, 7 May 1998, intensified its campaign to win the release of imprisoned Vietnamese editor and academic Doan Viet […]

(RSF/IFEX) – According to RSF, Nguyen Tung Chi, editor of the “Tien Phong” (“Avant-Garde”), a newspaper for young people, was attacked and beaten on 16 April 1998. The journalist was in a restaurant when 6 to 8 men entered and assaulted him. They used broken beer bottles and tried to put out his eyes. Nguyen […]

(WAN/IFEX) – Doan Viet Hoat, an imprisoned Vietnamese editor, has been awarded the 1998 Golden Pen of Freedom, the World Association of Newspapers’ annual prize for outstanding contributions to the cause of press freedom. Announcing the prize at its meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, the Board of WAN, which represents more than 15,000 newspapers world-wide, paid […]

(WAN/IFEX) – Doan Viet Hoat, an imprisoned Vietnamese editor, has been awarded the 1998 Golden Pen of Freedom, the World Association of Newspapers’ annual prize for outstanding contributions to the cause of press freedom. Announcing the prize at its meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, the Board of WAN, which represents more than 15,000 newspapers world-wide, paid […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – On 8 October 1997, Nguyen Hoang Linh, the editor of the state-run business newspaper “Doang Nghiep” (“Enterprise”), was arrested on charges of revealing state secrets. The arrest and charges, which were confirmed by the management of the newspaper on 12 October, were linked to reports authored by Linh in “Doang Nghiep” that explored […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 6 October 1997, the authorities in Vietnam published a decree which tightens their grip on the media by limiting contacts between local journalists and foreign correspondents. Vietnamese journalists have been barred from providing foreign reporters with information, photographs and articles without the approval of the authorities. Under the new policy, foreign news […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – International PEN has received confirmation of the release of writer Pham Duc Kham on 28 August 1997 on “humanitarian grounds”, five years before his sentence was due to expire. He has reportedly joined his family in San Jose, California, in the United States of America. **Updates IFEX alert dated 31 March 1993** Pham […]

Writer and biologist Nguyen Xuan Tu, also known as Ha Si Phu, was given a twelve month prison sentence on 22 August 1996 on charges of possessing “secret” documents. No details are presently available to International PEN as to the nature of these documents. It is feared, however, that the real reason for his arrest […]

Sources: Human Rights Watch/Asia, Vietnamese Committee on Human Rights, PEN members, others On 15 August 1995, the Venerable Thich Quang Do, a Buddhist scholar and religious leader who is the author of numerous books and poetry, was sentenced to five years in prison. Five others were also convicted with him to sentences of up to […]