Behind the so-called 'human rights award'

Websites such as Radio Free Asia (RFA), VOA Vietnamese, BBC Vietnamese cite sources and have many comments distorting the situation in Vietnam. Illustrative image

Ridiculous self-proclaimed “Martin Ennals” award

The organization's website states: “Pham Thi Doan Trang is a leading journalist and activist for democracy in Vietnam… She supports the guarantee of civil liberties such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly… She co-founded several leading media outlets such as Law Magazine, Green Trees, and Free Publishing House.”

First of all, we must talk about the so-called Martin Ennals Prize, established by the Martin Ennals Foundation. The prize was established in 1993 to honor and protect individuals around the world who have shown exceptional courage in defending and promoting human rights. The prize is named after Martin Ennals - former Secretary General of Amnesty International.

In fact, this is a self-proclaimed award established by a number of organizations under the name of human rights to create influence to raise funds worldwide. The jury is a member of human rights organizations such as: HRW, WOAT, HRF, HURIDOCS... Following the entire process of operation, this award is given to those who have activities against the national and ethnic interests of their country. Many awardees are in prison for taking advantage of freedom, democracy, and human rights to oppose.

The fact that the Martin Ennals Award was given to Pham Thi Doan Trang - who was recently sentenced to 9 years in prison for "Propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" - once again demonstrates a lack of objectivity, unrealistic and stereotyping. Obviously, Pham Thi Doan Trang is a criminal who has been brought to light. The trial of Pham Thi Doan Trang took place publicly according to the provisions of the law. Doan Trang is not a "famous journalist" as the Martin Ennals Foundation calls her, but only a reporter for several domestic electronic newspapers. After Trang's downfall, no press agency "accepted" this woman to work.

Yet the Martin Ennals Foundation used many “beautiful words” to describe Doan Trang when announcing the above award. That: She is “the most influential and respected human rights defender”, “an inspiration for Vietnamese civil society”, “a leading journalist”,…

Published on the Martin Ennals Foundation website. Screenshot

As soon as the Martin Ennals Foundation announced the "Martin Ennals Award", websites such as RFA, VOA Vietnamese, and BBC Vietnamese quoted the information to follow suit. RFA headlined: "Prisoner of conscience Pham Doan Trang was awarded the Martin Ennals Award". Meanwhile, BBC Vietnamese in the article: "The 2022 Martin Ennals Award is presented to Ms. Pham Doan Trang" quoted the words of a number of human rights organizations to use Doan Trang's case to defame Vietnam. Specifically, the article quoted Phil Robertson, Deputy Director of Asia at Human Rights Watch: "Pham Doan Trang is a motivator for many activists and journalists in Vietnam, where freedom of expression is considered a threat"...

The arguments and statements of the above organizations and individuals are baseless, lack objectivity and blatantly distort the situation in Vietnam.

The sinister plot behind the awards

In recent years, so-called “human rights awards” have been frequently used by hostile forces in their “peaceful evolution” strategy to cause harm and find excuses to interfere in the internal affairs of socialist countries, including Vietnam. They have organized many hearings, seminars, press conferences, issued statements, issued a number of resolutions, reports… slandering and distorting the human rights situation in Vietnam, demanding to link bilateral and multilateral humanitarian aid with demands for improving democracy, human rights, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and speech… They have called for and received support from non-governmental organizations through the implementation of projects to “promote” and “improve human rights”, encouraging reactionary Vietnamese exiles and anti-Vietnam groups to engage in anti-Vietnam activities. Many agencies and organizations such as the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, the European Parliament, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International (AL)... in their annual reports, on the one hand, acknowledge that Vietnam has made positive changes, but still intentionally give negative assessments of the human rights situation in Vietnam.

To serve their sabotage activities, they attract and create characters with discontented or greedy thoughts for material benefits and then award self-proclaimed awards such as: Human Rights Award, "Influence Award", Homo Homini Award, etc. From there, they mobilize a number of extremist parliamentarians and governments of some countries to call for fundraising to fight for human rights. To legitimize financial support and funding from sponsors, they release "reports" and "reports" that defame the human rights situation in Vietnam. They take full advantage of the moral and lifestyle degradation, corruption and law violations of a number of cadres and party members to propagate and attack the leadership role of the Party, destroy the trust of the masses in the Party's leadership in order to influence internal transformation from within, carry out the plot of "peaceful evolution" and riots to overthrow in Vietnam.

Through fundraising for awards, human rights organizations have received a lot of funding from reactionary organizations that oppose Vietnam. In order to “repay”, these organizations have made assessments and comments that are not objective and unrealistic about the situation of human rights, democracy, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press in Vietnam. The purpose is to defame and make countries and organizations misunderstand the image of the country and people of Vietnam. This is an extremely sinister, sinister, and blatant plot of hostile forces.

Vivid and eloquent evidence of Vietnam's development

However, the reality of the country in the past decades is the most eloquent and vivid proof that smashes the arguments of hostile forces. 35 years of renovation (1986 - 2021) is an important period in the country's development, marking the maturity in all aspects of the Party, State and people. The renovation process has truly been closely linked to the destiny of the nation, the destiny of the country, and each Vietnamese person and has been highly appreciated by international friends. They know Vietnam as a peace-loving nation and also a country with many achievements in the renovation process, especially in socio-economic development, becoming a destination for investors and trade partners around the world. Over the past 2 years, despite difficult conditions, Vietnam has provided support in terms of human resources, equipment and shared experiences in preventing and fighting the Covid-19 pandemic with other countries.

The international community has a new perspective on Vietnam through the VinFuture Prize. Photo: Nhat Bac/Baochinhphu

Most recently, on the evening of January 20, 2022, scientists around the world learned about Vietnam through the VinFuture Awards Ceremony at the Hanoi Opera House. This is a global science and technology award, established on December 20, 2020 with the mission of "creating positive changes in the daily lives of millions of people by promoting scientific research and technological innovation". The award was founded by Vingroup Chairman Pham Nhat Vuong and his wife Pham Thu Huong and is awarded annually in Vietnam. The award council is made up of the world's leading scientists, many of whom have won the Nobel Prize... Once again, the world learned about a studious Vietnamese people, always striving to master technology and ready to make positive contributions to making people's lives better, improving the sustainable living environment for future generations.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong once said: “Over the past 90 years, under the leadership of the Party, our country's position and strength have been strengthened. Many international organizations have assessed Vietnam as a country with developed economy and culture, stable politics and society, and many good prospects... Our country has never had such a great foundation, role and high position as today.” And, the duty of each of us citizens is to constantly cultivate and train our moral and political qualities; eliminate harmful ideologies and regularly study to improve our qualifications to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors in building Vietnam's foundation.