1 May
2014
1 May
'14
2:52 p.m.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2014
Contact: Rohit Mahajan 202 530 4976 <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org>
mahajanr(a)rfa.org
Radio Free Asia Hosts Vietnamese Bloggers Event Ahead of World Press Freedom
Day
Netizens Joined by Experts from U.S. State Department, Google, and other
groups
WASHINGTON - Marking the upcoming commemoration of World Press Freedom Day
on May 3, Radio Free Asia <http://www.rfa.org/english/> (RFA) today hosted
"Towards a Free Media in Vietnam" featuring six Vietnam-based bloggers and
digital activists, in addition to U.S. human rights, media, and technology
experts. In two panels, speakers discussed ways to promote opening Vietnam's
oppressive digital landscape and media environment. The event was
co-sponsored by RFA's Open Technology Fund <https://www.opentechfund.org/>
(OTF), Vietnamese reform party Viet Tan
<http://www.viettan.org/-English-.html> , ACCESS
<https://www.accessnow.org/> , Electronic Frontier Foundation
<https://www.eff.org/> (EFF), and Reporters Without Borders
<https://en.rsf.org/> (RSF).
"For RFA's audience - and everyone around the world - empowerment begins
with free speech and free press on any platform," said Libby Liu, President
of RFA. "The will and determination of these courageous bloggers from
Vietnam, who risk so much to join us here today, are an inspiration.
"Their cause is our cause. And it is the cause of all who pick up the banner
of free expression and free media around the world."
Vietnam's authoritarian government encourages the Internet's growth for the
sake of economic gains. But at the same time, it retains tight controls and
clamps down on government criticism online. It blocks websites, including
RFA's; launches cyber attacks on online media; aggressively monitors its
citizens' Internet use; routinely shuts down social media platforms;
restricts content allowed online through a series of decrees; imposes narrow
limits on providers such as the country's abundant Internet cafes; and jails
bloggers - 31 at last count - making Vietnam second only to China as the
world's biggest prison for netizens.
This stark reality, along with hopes of finding ways to change it, were
discussed in the first panel by the visiting bloggers, who included Le Thanh
Tung, a freelance journalist and digital activist; Ngo Nhat Dang, a
freelance journalist and contributor to the BBC Vietnamese section; Nguyen
Dinh Ha, a blogger and digital activist; Nguyen Thi Kim Chi, an actress who
began blogging; and To Oanh, a blogger and former contributor to state-owned
newspapers. Speaking about these issues on the second panel, which was
moderated by President Liu, were Scott Busby, Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; Do Hoang Diem, Chairman of
Viet Tan; Jon Fox, Global Advocacy Manager at ACCESS; and Google Program
Manager Meredith Whittaker.
# # #
Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and
publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian
languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media.
RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and
expression, including the freedom to "seek, receive, and impart information
and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." RFA is funded by
an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
Rohit Mahajan | Radio Free Asia | Media Relations Manager
<mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org | O: 202.530.4976 | M:
202.489.8021
