Those who play the trick of 'listening to rumors', blatantly distorting Vietnamese press

RFI's distortion of journalistic activities in Vietnam.

Freedom of the press in Vietnam is guaranteed by the Constitution and laws and is implemented in practice. The 2013 Constitution stipulates that “Citizens have the right to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, access to information, assembly, association, and demonstration. The exercise of these rights is regulated by law.” In order for the freedom of the press of all citizens to be implemented in life according to the provisions of the Constitution, the Vietnamese National Assembly has enacted many important laws such as the Press Law, the Cyber ​​Security Law, the Publishing Law, etc. and the Government has also issued many legal documents, creating a legal corridor for the development of the Vietnamese press, ensuring the freedom of the press of citizens.

Article 13,The current Press Law clearly stipulates the State's responsibility for citizens' freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the press: “1. The State creates favorable conditions for citizens to exercise their freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the press and for the press to properly promote its role. 2. The press and journalists operate within the framework of the law and are protected by the State. No one is allowed to abuse freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the press to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and citizens. 3. The press is not censored before printing, transmitting and broadcasting.”

Delegates discussed innovation in Party-building journalism at the National Party Press Conference. Photo: Duc Anh

Along with creating favorable conditions for citizens to exercise their right to freedom of the press, freedom of speech in the press and for the press to properly promote its role, the Press Law also clearly stipulates the State's responsibilities and policies on press development, in which it affirms that the State "has a strategy for planning the development and management of the press system", and at the same time "builds, directs and organizes the implementation of strategies, plans and plans for press development".

Article 13 of the Press Law stipulates the State's responsibility for citizens' freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the press. Accordingly, Article 10 stipulates that citizens have the right to: “1. Create journalistic works. 2. Provide information to the press. 3. Respond to information in the press. 4. Access press information. 5. Cooperate with press agencies to produce journalistic products. 6. Print and distribute printed newspapers”.

Article 11This Law also stipulates that citizens have the right to: “1. Express opinions on the situation of the country and the world. 2. Participate in giving opinions on the formulation and implementation of the Party's guidelines, policies, and the State's laws. 3. Contribute opinions, criticisms, recommendations, complaints, and denunciations in the press against Party organizations, state agencies, socio-political organizations, socio-political-professional organizations, social organizations, socio-professional organizations, and other organizations and individuals”. Along with respecting and ensuring freedom of the press, like every country in the world, Vietnam resolutely and strictly handles cases of taking advantage of freedom of the press to violate the law, sabotage the Party, the State, and the people's cause of building and protecting the Fatherland.

Reporters working at the National Party Newspaper Conference. Photo: Duc Anh

Thus, it can be said that in Vietnam, freedom of speech and freedom of the press have been guaranteed by a strict, clear, public and transparent legal system. Not every country in the world can do as well as Vietnam. In recent years, the Vietnamese press has had strong and comprehensive development. According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the country currently has 868 press agencies, 72 radio, television and electronic information stations. On the one hand, the Vietnamese press provides complete and accurate information on all aspects of social activities, and on the other hand, the press is a forum for the majority of people. The Vietnamese press is a place for Vietnamese citizens and international friends to express their thoughts and aspirations to the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The Vietnamese press is also an important channel for criticism of the country's socio-economic, defense, security and foreign policies. In fact, recently, many important issues of the country, through the criticism of the press, have helped State agencies change and adjust policies, and be cautious before making major policies, solutions, and decisions.

A brief look at these features is enough to see a vivid picture of press freedom in Vietnam. We are familiar with the motives and purposes of Reporters Without Borders. The tricks of this organization have been the same for many years. But the truth about press freedom in Vietnam has rejected all the distorted, falsified, and slanderous arguments of this organization. They claim that Vietnam is "one of the 10 countries with the worst press freedom in the world", but perhaps they have never been to Vietnam and do not understand the great contributions of the Vietnamese press to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. They do not know that Vietnam has become a leading country in the region. All their information is just petty and baseless. Vietnam's achievements in human rights in general and press freedom in particular have been recognized and highly appreciated by the world. It is thanks to these achievements and contributions to the promotion and development of human rights in general and press freedom in particular that Vietnam was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term. This is clear evidence that rejects all the distorted and falsified arguments of Reporters Without Borders./.