12 Apr
2023
12 Apr
'23
12:06 p.m.
Contact: Rohit Mahajan | mahajanr(a)rfa.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 12, 2023
Radio Free Asia Condemns Sentencing of Vietnamese Blogger Nguyen Lan Thang
WASHINGTON— A Hanoi court today sentenced prominent political activist and
long-time RFA contributing blogger Nguyen Lan Thang
<http://rfa.org/english/news/vietnam/activist-propaganda-case-04112023165002.html>
to six years in prison on charges of spreading “anti-state propaganda.” He
is among four jailed RFA contributors in Vietnam, Nguyen Tuong Thuy, Truong
Duy Nhat and Nguyen Van Hoa. RFA President Bay Fang issued the following
statement:
“Today’s conviction of Nguyen Lan Thang is both a miscarriage of justice
and an assault on free expression in Vietnam. The outrageous harassment he
has endured and his sentencing to six years in prison demonstrate the
extent to which Vietnamese authorities will go to silence independent
journalists and voices.
“Nguyen Lan Thang shared his perspectives and opinions online with a sense
of responsibility and duty, but never with malice or disrespect.
Nevertheless he is among four RFA contributors in Vietnam who have been
ensnared by the government in an effort to censor and purge. Radio Free
Asia calls for the immediate release of Nguyen Lan Thang and for all
charges against him to be dropped.”
# # #
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 United States Agency for Global Media.
--
*Rohit Mahajan*
*Chief Communications Officer*
*Radio Free Asia*