“In this world, we are saddened not only by the actions and words of the wicked, but also by the terrifying silence of the good.” – Martin Luther King, Nobel PrizePeace in 1964.
Yes, I immediately recalled Martin Luther King's quote after reading, listening, and watching, and learning that a group of school officials and teachers are being slandered and harassed by people from a financial organization, even though they have no involvement or connection to it.
Remembering Martin Luther King's quote, what happened to them was truly terrifying. How could they not be afraid when they – school administrators, teachers who only know pen, chalk, and lesson plans to impart knowledge to generations of students – constantly receive phone calls from strangers insulting and threatening their lives and the lives of their loved ones? Or every time they open their personal Facebook accounts, they see their portraits cropped up, attached with insulting posts and comments full of all sorts of vile and derogatory remarks…
As Mr. Nguyen Trong Giap, Principal of Yen Thanh 2 High School, said: “They constantly call to harass and threaten us. They call several times a day, at any time of day, from many different phone numbers. Every time we answer, they yell and threaten us with vulgar language.” Or, as Ms. Ngo Thi Hien, Principal of the school, shared...At Phan Dang Luu Secondary School, a teacher said: “Almost every day I receive 4 to 5 debt collection calls, even during lunchtime. Every time I pick up, they yell and curse. They say things like, 'The principal is like this,' and so on. I'm very shocked…” Even the head of the province's education sector, a National Assembly representative, Professor Thai Van Thanh, couldn't avoid the trouble. He confided: “This isn't the only case; I've been through this many times. They call, make missed calls, send text messages, emails… it's very annoying. I've also reported it to the police.”
Remembering Martin Luther King's words, we realize that this terrifying situation is not something that has only been happening for a few days. This frightening truth has not only been spoken out about by many officials and teachers in the press. Even the Department of Education and Training, due to similar incidents involving officials and teachers, consulted with law enforcement agencies from the beginning of January 2022 and issued Document No. 159/SGD&ĐT-CTTT to the Education Departments and schools in the area. In this document, the Department of Education and Training warned about the "traps" set by loan shark organizations and the "tricks" used to lend money through social media, so that officials and teachers would be aware and avoid becoming victims. At the same time, it also guides teachers and staff on how to "behave" appropriately: "In case loan sharks manipulate photos, defame, or falsely accuse you on social media, email, etc., demanding payment of a debt you never borrowed, or forcing you to transfer money... promptly inform friends and relatives, and at the same time report to your agency or unit and file a report with the police..."
Because this incident happened more than just a few days ago, it made me ponder Martin Luther King's words even more, and I feel that the education sector and the teachers and staff who have been abused are still alone.
But I believe this situation won't keep happening!
It is unacceptable that, because a teacher's spouse (or partner) borrowed money and is late in repaying it, the lender has the right to use intimidation tactics, threats, and false accusations against dozens of colleagues and the school's Board of Directors to pressure them into paying the debt. It is also unacceptable that, because a teacher borrowed money and is late in repaying it, the lender has the right to use intimidation tactics, false accusations, and threats against school leaders, the Department of Education, and the Provincial Department of Education and Training.
Articles 155 and 156 of the 2015 Penal Code (amended and supplemented in 2017) clearly stipulate the crimes of humiliating others and defamation. Acts of defamation, slander, humiliation, or threats against officials, teachers, or any individual in society (there have been reports of many officials, civil servants, and employees in other fields also being subjected to this), regardless of the perpetrator or organization, are violations of the law.
They may still exist today. But having violated the law, they are evil and wicked, and sooner or later society will condemn them. They must be severely punished by law and eliminated!
