Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called for the immediate release of Vietnamese independent journalist and political commentator Truong Huy San, also known as Huy Duc, amid an ongoing crackdown on the press. RSF’s Asia-Pacific Bureau Director, Cédric Alviani, highlighted the significance of Huy Duc’s work in giving Vietnamese citizens access to censored information. Alviani urged the authorities to release Huy Duc and restore his Facebook page, which has been a key platform for his critical commentary.
Huy Duc’s recent posts have scrutinized the concentration of power within Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and the government’s anti-corruption measures. In response, Vietnamese authorities arrested and charged him under Clause 2, Article 331 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights, and interests of organizations and individuals.”
The arrest has drawn condemnation from international human rights organizations. Human Rights Watch Associate Asia Director Patricia Gossman condemned the arrest as an attack on free expression, urging international donors and Vietnam’s trade partners to advocate for Huy Duc’s release.
Since 2016, under the leadership of Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong, the Vietnamese government has intensified its crackdown on freedom of expression. Journalists criticizing the regime risk facing severe charges, such as “propaganda against the state” or “abusing democratic freedoms,” which can lead to lengthy prison sentences. Notably, journalist Pham Doan Trang was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2021 for “anti-state propaganda.”
Vietnam currently detains over 160 political prisoners, placing it among the countries with the highest number of jailed journalists. For further details, refer to the full article on JURIST’s website.