What is Phil Robertson up to?

(Baonghean) -On November 21, the Supreme People's Court opened an appeal hearing and upheld the original sentence against Dinh Dang Dinh for "propaganda against the State...". There would be nothing to discuss if not for the fact that right after the verdict was announced, Mr. Phil Robertson, Deputy Director of the Asia region of the so-called Human Rights Watch in the US, spoke out that "Such prosecution has raised fundamental concerns about Vietnam's intentions regarding freedom of expression on the Internet."

Dinh Dang Dinh's act of abusing freedom of speech to oppose the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is very clear. Born in 1963, in Hai Duong province, but when arrested, Dinh Dang Dinh was residing in Kien Duc town, Dak R'Lap district, Dak Nong province. Before working at Le Quy Don High School (Tuy Duc town, Tuy Duc district, Dak Nong), Dinh worked at many agencies but was transferred many times, due to quitting or voluntarily quitting his job.

During his time at Le Quy Don High School, Dinh was also undisciplined many times, not complying with the professional regulations of the Department of Education and Training and the school's Board of Directors. Dinh also always tried to divide the internal affairs, especially by speaking ill of the leaders, the government, and local departments and branches... The collective and many people advised against it, but Dinh still had the same old habits... In particular, Dinh was arrogant in drafting and distributing documents opposing the policies of the Party and the State; colluding and connecting with reactionary elements and organizations at home and abroad to conduct activities against the State of Vietnam. Dinh contacted and colluded with Nguyen Trung Linh to establish the so-called "Party of Freedom and Democracy in Vietnam", participated in forums, and gave interviews to reactionary press agencies of the terrorist organization Viet Tan abroad with content opposing the Party and the people's government. Not only that, Dinh also produced, stored and circulated many documents with content that defamed and distorted the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh..., creating conditions for reactionary organizations in exile abroad to distort the truth in order to sabotage the Vietnamese State.

Everything was clear as day, but in the eyes of Mr. Phil Robertson, Dinh Dang Dinh was just a “moderate politician”, Dinh’s actions were only “exercising freedom of speech”, “expressing personal opinions”,… and not a criminal of “propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”. Mr. Phil Robertson said in the statement: “He (Dinh Dang Dinh) should not have been arrested because all he did was exercise the basic right to freedom of expression…”.

Mr. Phil Robertson's statement clearly shows his short-sighted, one-sided, and one-sided view and proves that he does not understand anything about the International Convention and Vietnamese law. Not only in Vietnam but also in every country in the world, citizens' democratic freedoms are respected within the framework of the law. For example, Article 18 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany clearly states: "Anyone who uses freedom of speech, especially freedom of the press, freedom of propaganda... as a tool against the order of a free and democratic society will be deprived of his citizenship."

Dinh Dang Dinh's actions clearly violate both international conventions and Vietnamese law. So why did Mr. Phil Robertson speak up to defend Dinh Dang Dinh, what is Mr. Phil Robertson planning? Answering that question is not difficult, because public opinion at home and abroad is familiar with the intentions of Mr. Phil Robertson and the so-called Human Rights Watch. For a long time, the Human Rights Watch in the US and some websites with anti-Vietnam views abroad have often taken advantage of similar incidents to spread propaganda and pressure Vietnam to change Article 88 of the Penal Code, which stipulates the crime of "propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam". Clearly, Mr. Phil Robertson is using the guise of "human rights monitoring" to rudely interfere in the internal affairs of Vietnam - an independent, sovereign nation. This is an act that deserves condemnation.

Vu Linh