Vietnamese authorities announced on Friday the arrest of Truong Huy San, a prominent journalist, charged with violating the national security law by posting critical comments about the government on Facebook. Tran Dinh Trien, a lawyer, was arrested alongside San and faces similar charges. Both are accused of “abusing freedoms and democracy to infringe upon the interests of the state,” as outlined in Article 331 of the Vietnamese penal code. Conviction under this article carries penalties of up to seven years in prison.
The Ministry of Public Security has executed searches on their homes and workplaces, and their social media accounts have been suspended. The arrests were announced shortly after San failed to appear at an academic conference.
Critics argue that the national security law is overly broad and serves as a mechanism for imposing blanket censorship over government criticism. “By wrongfully arresting Huy Duc, the Vietnamese authorities are targeting one of Vietnam’s courageous and influential journalists,” said Patricia Grossman, associate Asia Director at Human Rights Watch (HRW). Reporters Without Borders (RSF) echoed these sentiments, calling for Duc’s immediate release and the reinstatement of his social media presence.
The climate for journalists in Vietnam has grown increasingly hostile since 2016, with frequent crackdowns on press freedom. Prominent journalist Pham Doan Trang, for instance, was sentenced to nine years in jail in 2021, labeled a leading figure in Vietnamese dissent. According to RSF, as of December 2023, Vietnam has detained 36 journalists.
The international community, including NGOs and global trade partners, has called on Vietnam to respect freedom of expression and release detained journalists. For more information, visit JURIST.