Vietnam has so far this year locked up more internet bloggers than in 2012. Vietnamese bloggers were therefore quick to react when, along with China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Cuba, the communist country was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for 2014-2016 term by creating and launching a new instrument for free expression: the Network of Vietnamese Bloggers (NVB).
The network aims to ensure that the Vietnamese government implements its obligations and commitments to the UNHRC through actions rather than mere political statements. Stating that, as Vietnam’s membership to the UNHRC means that all of its 90 million citizens are now members of the Council, the NVB will strive to uphold core values in the promoting and protection of human rights.
In order to do this it believes that Vietnam should:
Agree to the 7 UN requests not yet met by the Vietnamese government which would allow UN delegates to visit Vietnam to investigate alleged human rights violations,
End torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment of any and all Vietnamese citizens,
Release those currently imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their freedom of expression and other rights based on core and universal values of UN treaties,
Repeal vaguely-worded laws and decrees which are arbitrarily interpreted,
End the state monopoly on media and publishing, ensure that all individuals and organisations are entitled to establish media agencies and publishing house,
Remove firewalls that bar users accessing social media networks.
Chi Dang, Director of Overseas Support for the Free Journalist Network in Vietnam, stated that it was crucial that the launch of the network had international support as this has “proven to provide effective protection for our bloggers on the ground”.
The launch of the network will coincide with the International Human Rights Day on December 10.
Three established Vietnamese bloggers have been charged with spreading spreading anti-government propaganda. According to AP, Nguyen Van Hai, Phan Thanh Hai and Ta Phon Tan are accused of belong to the banned “Free Journalists Club” of Vietnam and contributing 421 articles which “distorted and opposed the State.” The three men have been detained awaiting trial, if convicted they face up to 20 years in prison. Vietnam has a poor record on press freedom, the Communist Party maintains a tight control of the media
Bahraini activist Zainab Al-Khawaja has been arrested today while protesting on Budaiya street, according to local reports. Shortly before being arrested, Al-Khawaja, who tweets from the account @angryarabiya, tweeted a message saying, “Sitting in a roundabout on budaiya street, shouting down down Hamad. Until now riot police don’t seem to know what to so.” Her sister, Maryam Al-Khawaja, who also works for the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights confirmed her arrest to Index. More updates to come.
Update 16/12/11: Zainab Al-Khawaja is to be detained for seven days. According to her lawyer, when arrested, Zainab was sprayed in the eyes with something making her unable to see for approximately one hour. Whilst at the police station, Zainab was beaten on her head, arms and legs. While she could not see, she recognised the voice of the policewoman who beat her, but the prosecutor refused to write it down. Zainab was then accused of hitting the policewoman, and refused to sign a statement. Zainab’s lawyer attempted to show the prosecutor the video of her arrest, but he refused to watch it. Zainab is currently waiting to establish what will happen to her.
Libel Reform Campaign has today published a new guide about libel laws for bloggers.
The guide, entitled ‘So you’ve had a threatening letter. What can you do?’ is published by Index on Censorship in association with Sense About Science, English PEN, the Media Legal Defence Initiative, the Association of British Science Writers and the World Federation of Science Journalists.
The report seeks to better explain English libel law for people who have been threatened with legal action for blogs, comments or articles they have posted online.
It addresses the essential questions, namely the strength of the claimant’s threat and how the defendant should respond. Today’s publication comprises just a part of the Libel Reform Campaign’s wider efforts to make English libel law simpler, cheaper, and less favourable to the claimant. If the campaign is successful, it is hoped changes will come into force that will better defend online publishers and writers against defamation actions.
