Don't cover up the truth!

(Baonghean) - "Living and working according to the Constitution and the law" - many people know and remember that slogan, but it is not always implemented correctly, even in public agencies. The evidence is in the report presented by Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan at the Conference summarizing 15 years of implementing the Press Law recently held in Hanoi, which affirmed that although the Press Law has been implemented for 15 years, "some localities, units and individuals still avoid and find ways to not provide information to the press". This is a violation, a failure to seriously work according to the law.

There is a very clear issue that our State always creates conditions for citizens to participate in state and social management; to be open and transparent in receiving and responding to citizens' opinions and recommendations. The press is one of the information channels to implement and monitor the implementation of that openness and transparency. However, the coordination and response from public agencies are not really in accordance with the provisions of the Press Law. The results of the National Assembly's supervision of this field in Ho Chi Minh City show that in 2013, only about 30% of the total number of petitions sent by Ho Chi Minh City Television were processed by the authorities, 27.8% of Thanh Nien newspaper, 25% of Ho Chi Minh City Law newspaper, and 22% of Tuoi Tre newspaper. A very low rate, very disappointing and in need of dissection and clarification. The reason for the very low response rate, according to the assessment of competent authorities, is partly due to the fact that cadres, civil servants and public employees do not clearly understand their responsibilities and especially the law does not have sanctions. But that is only part of the reason. So what is the rest? Is it due to suspicion, lack of trust in the goodwill of press agencies, or is it because the handling of work is shady, unclear, not transparent, even has many errors, so they do not want to "show their back to others" and choose to remain silent. To put it bluntly, in some cases, silence and non-response are aimed at hiding and covering up the truth. That is why not onlysilence, some places, some people have even acted to obstruct the press from working in accordance with its assigned duties and responsibilities, such as refusing to cooperate and provide information in accordance with the law. There have been acts of infringement such as confiscating reporters' working equipment, chasing away and illegally detaining reporters... Such acts of disrespect for the press and disregard for the law have occurred quite a few times in recent times. In particular, in localities, agencies, units and individuals involved in negative incidents, violations of the Press Law are even more serious. Regarding this issue, in the summary report of the Ministry of Information and Communications, it was also confirmed that "many cases of obstructing press work, confiscating working equipment of reporters and journalists, and even extremists have assaulted journalists. Although acts of obstructing work have been strictly handled, there are also many cases where the handling has not been satisfactory, causing public outrage, especially in the press community". Therefore, in addition to regulating the responsibility to respond and provide information to the press, there should be additional regulations and sanctions to handle organizations and individuals who deliberately refuse to provide information, or do not respond to requests and recommendations from press agencies. In fact, the Prime Minister has also issued regulations on handling the avoidance of providing information, but so far there have been no detailed instructions, so no one can be punished.

Remember, providing information and responding to the press is to strengthen the dialogue between the State and citizens in a public, transparent, truthful manner and is to implement the freedom of the press as we declare. Of course, there are also journalists who take advantage of their positions, powers, and professions for personal gain, but, as Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said at the conference: "Do not cover up everything because of a few phenomena (inadequacies of the press). Because, covering up information from the press is covering up the truth (which can be good or bad). And the truth must always be respected and fully expressed as it is. It is known that the Ministry of Information and Communications will "open the door widely" to listen to comments and contributions to the new Press Law, even willing to invite leaders of press agencies and journalists to participate in the drafting committee so that the draft has the highest quality. But whatever we discuss and whatever we say, the highest quality is to make it so that no one can and no one wants to hide, conceal information, or conceal the truth.

Duy Huong