Vietnam: Blogger jailed for corruption reporting

Blogger Duong Van Thai has been sentenced to twelve years in prison by a Hanoi Court on October 30, for commentary on government corruption. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the blogger's ongoing prosecution as a violation of press freedom and calls for the immediate release of all Vietnamese journalists detained for their reporting.

Blogger Duong Van Thai was sentenced to twelve years in prison on October 30, following anti-state commentary. Credit: X

On October 30, blogger Duong Van Thai was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment, to be followed by a three year release on probation in a one-day closed-door trial. A Hanoi court convicted Thai under Article 117 of the Criminal Code in "making, storing, disseminating or propagating information… aimed at opposing the state of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam".

Thai would frequently post YouTube live streams criticising the ruling Communist Party and its members. According to state media, Thai also ran a Facebook group that reported on the private lives of Vietnamese leaders.

The blogger fled to Thailand in 2019, where he was granted refugee status. In April 2023, his friends and neighbours reported him missing and uncontactable, days after he had discussed the trial of jailed Vietnamese journalist Nguyen Lan Thang. Vietnamese police confirmed the journalist was in their custody on April 16, claiming he was arrested after attempting to enter the country illegally. Right groups accused Vietnamese authorities of kidnapping Thai, claiming he would not have voluntarily retuned to Vietnam.

In a similar case of September this year, journalist and democracy campaigner Nguyen Vu Binh was sentenced to seven years in prison for distributing anti-state propaganda, also under Article 117. Binh's sentencing followed his commentary on YouTube channel TNT Media Live, that discusses political, economic and social issues of the country. Binh has denied all charges.

As of August 2023, a ban has been enforced against independent bloggers and all media in one-party Vietnam remains state-run.

The IFJ said:"Vietnamese journalists continue to face opaque arrests and trials to the detriment of all independent bloggers and media workers. Duong, holding refugee status, must be immediately released and allowed to leave Vietnam. Free media cannot exist where journalists face over a decade in prison for their reporting."