Hiding under the guise of 'human rights protection' to protect those who oppose

malicious tone

Standing up to defend and protect those they call “independent journalists”, a number of organizations and groups, including the “Vietnam Legal Initiative”, have been spreading false accusations that the Vietnamese government has “violated freedom of speech”; “attacked freedom of the press and independent journalism”… From these absurd inferences and accusations, the so-called “Vietnam Legal Initiative” and a number of organizations have demanded that the Vietnamese government immediately release the “independent journalists” who are being detained.

According to the arguments of some organizations, groups and the so-called "Vietnam Legal Initiative", the Vietnamese State does not comply with its international commitments on human rights; does not internalize the commitments, so Vietnamese law is not compatible with the United Nations Convention on Human Rights.human rights.... From these inferences, they believe that the "independent journalists" who have been arrested recently are only "expressing their opinions peacefully", "Vietnam suppresses freedom of speech and freedom of the press"... and that Vietnam's arrest and handling of people in the organization calling itself "Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam" is a violation of human rights; a violation of the right to freedom of speech as stated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Photo of the website of the organization "Vietnam Legal Initiative".

Vietnamese law is always consistent with international practice and conventions.

It must be affirmed immediately that a number of organizations and groups, including the so-called "Vietnam Legal Initiative", are hiding behind the guise of "protecting human rights" todistortdistort the nature of the cases to sabotage Vietnam.

The so-called organization “Vietnam Legal Initiative”, especially the leaders of this organization, need to know that Vietnam has joined the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) - one of the most important human rights documents of the United Nations. In Clause 1, Article 19, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights clearly stipulates: “Everyone has the right to hold opinions without interference”. But also in this Convention, in Clause 2, Article 22 stipulates: “The exercise of rights shall not be subject to any restrictions other than those which are prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others”.

Vietnam has been building a socialist rule-of-law state. The legal system of the Vietnamese State, including the current Penal Code, has been discussed, approved and promulgated by the National Assembly in accordance with the principles and procedures for drafting legal documents. In the process of building and perfecting the legal system, Vietnam always focuses on internalizing the provisions it has committed to the world on the basis of traditional culture and national practices.

On the other hand, with the spirit of expanding democracy in the law-making process, Vietnam always attaches importance to collecting opinions from all walks of life. Therefore, the legal system in general and the Penal Code of Vietnam in particular are compatible with international standards, reflect the will and aspirations of the people, ensure democracy and high consensus of society, and are compatible with international commitments that Vietnam has participated in regarding crimes that will be brought to criminal trial.

Deputies of the 14th National Assembly give their opinions on the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Penal Code. Photo: Archive

Like every country in the world, every Vietnamese citizen has the right to express his or her legitimate wishes and opinions, but this right must be exercised within the framework of the law; expressing opinions in an organized manner, in a collective spirit and with a constructive consciousness, for the benefit of the nation and people. Vietnamese society has no place for those who take advantage of freedom of speech,freedom of the pressto express opinions arbitrarily, in an unorganized manner, not for constructive purposes but with the aim of inciting, causing disturbance, infringing upon the rights and interests of others, harming the interests of the nation - people... Any act contrary to that spirit is a violation of the law and must be strictly handled according to the provisions of the law.

No argument can cover up the truth

In Vietnam, all citizens are equal before the Constitution and the law, in the spirit of “Rule of law”; “Living and working according to the Constitution and the law”. No matter how much they are shielded and protected, those mentioned by some organizations and groups, including the so-called “Vietnam Legal Initiative” are still those who have seriously violated Vietnamese law.

Specifically, they are members of the illegal organization “Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam”. Under the guise of this organization, they express their opinions in an unorganized manner, “make, store, disseminate or propagate information, documents and items to distort and sabotage the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”; “take advantage of democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals”; “intentionally disclose State secrets, appropriate, trade or destroy State items or secrets”;... And they must inevitably be subject to strict legal penalties, there is nothing to argue about.

Nghe An Provincial People's Court held the first-instance trial of Phan Cong Hai on charges of anti-state propaganda, April 2020. Photo: Duc Dung

The tone that some associations, groups and the so-called organization “Vietnam Legal Initiative” put forth is essentially “old wine in new bottles” based on the argument that “human rights are higher than sovereignty” of some Western countries. The actions of some associations, groups, including the so-called organization “Vietnam Legal Initiative” are not for human rights in Vietnam. It is just a trick under the guise of human rights to protect those who plot to take advantage of freedom of speech to sabotage the State and people of Vietnam./.