PANO – Throughout the last two weeks, the 90th anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day was celebrated with various activities taking place across the country. Over the past 90 years, the Vietnam Revolution Press (VRP) has grown up and made great developments. Surprisingly, some overseas press agencies and online websites still have reports based on false and distorted information about VRP and Vietnamese press achievements. With their allegations and shorted-sighted views, they object the progressive amendments to the Press Law and the project to reorganize the Vietnamese press system. Some boldly said that Vietnam has no real freedom of press, and that the “Vietnamese Constitution is opened but the Press Law is closed.”

Many new rights of press legalized

In fact, they have pretended not to understand the amendments to the Press Law and even distorted them in order to ask for a private press.

Their arguments are irrational and baseless. They have forgotten the 2013 Constitution of Vietnam, of which Term 25 clearly states: “Citizens have the rights of speech and press, the access to information, rights of meetings, rights to form associations and rights to go on strike. All the practices of these rights are defined by laws.”

According to observers, Vietnam’s amendments to the Press Law and Master Plan to reorganize the press aim to roll out and realize citizens’ press freedom in line with the Constitution.

Carefully studying Term 25, one could see that Vietnamese citizens have sufficient rights of press and information.

Speaking at a recent conference on the amendments to the Press Law, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Dr. Truong Minh Tuan affirmed: “Based on the summary of the 15 year press practice, the trend toward a modern press, and the Party’s principles and stance on thought work, theoretical work and press in the new context, any amendments to the Press Law must reflect the 2013 Constitution, which underlines the freedom of press, speech, information, meetings, rights to form associations and go on strike… The new Press Law must better ensure the rights of speech and press and especially the access to information for citizens in accordance with the socio-economic development condition of the country.”

In the history of legislation, the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Press Law in different periods of time has always defined citizens’ rights of speech and press. The Press Law even clearly states: “Press agencies and press workers operate in the legal framework and are protected by the State; no individual or organization controls and prevents press operations… Press and media are not censored before publications and broadcasts.”

(Photo for illustration: VNA)

It can be said that the Constitution and Press Law cover the comprehensive concept of citizens’ rights of speech and press.

The amendments to the Press Law, which, indeed, absorbs the new contents of the 2013 Constitution, more clearly defines citizens’ rights of the press and speech by reserving one chapter on the issue. Term 12 is about the rights of the press while Term 13 states citizens’ rights of speech in the press. The Terms of the Chapter clarify that there is no limit to legal press operations; no individuals and organizations control or/and prevent legal press operations; all legal press operations are protected by the State; and the State does not censor the press and media. On the other hand, they act as regulators to ensure that no-one abuses the rights of speech and press to violate national interests, legal interests of organizations and individuals.

Regarding the freedom of speech in the press, the law stipulates that citizens are fully informed about all aspects of life and situations of the country and the world via the press; citizens have the rights to provide information to press agencies and press workers, send photos, articles and other press pieces to the press without any censorship but they have a responsibility to the law for the contents of their provided information or/and their speech (including written forms) in the press. Citizens can also have their say on draft laws, draft policies, and have the right to give proposals, petitions and denouncements to competent agencies in line with the current laws and regulations.

According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Draft Law of the Press has 35 new points. According to experts, these new points reflect the legal advancement, and legalize citizens’ rights of speech and press regulated in the Constitution.

Private press running against the Constitution

The Draft of the Press Law and the plan to reorganize the press pursues the constant viewpoint, confirming that there is no private press in Vietnam. However, there is a new content in the Draft, stating that press agencies are permitted to associate with other press agencies and other legal entities. This new content shows that the Draft honors the common rights of the press in the world.

According to a study conducted by Dr. Truong Minh Tuan, British philosopher John Stuart Mill, one of the first researchers on the rights of press, shares the idea to some extent. Meanwhile, K. Marx and F. Engels also state that the freedom of the press and citizens’ rights of speech and press are necessary in modern society but they must be regulated by laws.

Term 5 of the Draft stipulates: “The press of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an essential mass means of communication within society, and a forum of the entire population.” Meanwhile, Term 16 clearly defines the political, social and professional organizations that are permitted to found press agencies. The regulation is clear and transparent, and does not permit individuals or private entities to set up press agencies.

At the 10th Meeting of the Party Central Committee of the 11th Party Congress much time was spent on the Master Plan to reorganizing the nationwide press agencies. The Meeting reconfirmed that Party and State agencies should actively provide information to press agencies, and that individuals and private entities must not be allowed to found or/and possess press agencies in order to avoid interest groups controlling the press. Meanwhile, press and media agencies should actively provide sufficient information for people while communications companies should promote the quality and security of internet services to ensure orthodox information for people and filter poisonous information in the internet.

Senior journalist Huu Tho, former Head of the Central Commission for Thought and Culture explicitly applauded the policy, saying that the plan for further development and better management of the press at this time is very important, which could serve as a firm basis for the press to develop in a healthy manner in the time to come.

All the above facts and arguments show that the revision of the Press Law and Plan to reorganize the press system aim to improve the efficiency of press operations and the quality of information for people in the future, which exactly follows the 2013 Constitution. From the positive changes, the Vietnamese press will surely serve as a means of providing information en masse and a forum for all people to practice their rights of speech and press as well as to promote democracy.

Written by Nguyen Van Minh

Translated by Thu Nguyen