US remains concerned over free speech in Vietnam

[Boonierat]

HANOI — Vietnam has made progress on religious freedom but its efforts to "criminalise" free speech were among rights issues which still raise concern, the United States ambassador said Wednesday.

"We applaud the progress that Vietnam has made in some areas, such as improving the ability of religious people to practise their faith," Michael Michalak told a news conference marking his first two years as ambassador.

"We remain concerned, however, over other of Vietnam's human rights practices," he said.

These practices included efforts to crack down on the media and to "criminalise free speech, which will make it more difficult to tackle corruption and environmental degradation," he said
[...]

FULL ARTICLE - AFP

[Miss Saigon]

US remains concerned over free speech in Vietnam

Yes we do!

[Sgt. Rock]

Good link. Looks like they had another link associated with that one in regards to the US being concerned with how the US were being viewed on tv. Maybe the US can send Vietnam some Jane Fonda movies to show in Vietnam, or maybe since Jane Fonda is on broadway she can star as Che in "Evita" and sing some showtunes or something, and send a recording of the that to Vietnam to be shown on tv. Maybe that will improve the view of Americans on tv in Vietnam.

http://www.reuters.com/article/world...57P1UW20090826

[trailboss49]

Nah, some them a couple of the Chuck Norris MIA movies along with the second RAMBO movie. Maybe they'll like the USA then.

[Poor Old Spike]

I can just imagine a dialog-

USA- "We're concerned over free speech in Vietnam"
VIETNAM- "So invade us"..

[sgnsteve]

Boston Legal, House and the Simpsons are popular as is the Discovery Channel and Nat Geo. CNN and BBC are shown with the Business Channel, all hours of the day. Alot of current movies are shown on the Star, HBO and Cinemax networks. There are 6 sport channels showing all kinds of sports. The fashion channel is popular with the women as are the real crime shows with the men. There are about 75 channels on SCTV all for 5$ a month. I don't think I have ever heard anyone speak of Jane Fonda there and I would probably get a blank stare if I asked someone their opinion of her. As for the Vietnamese shows; the dramas about the war are mostly love lost stories where a loyal women struggles to see her long lost lover through thick and thin. I enjoy the knock-off game shows "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire", the dong being what it is, a 1,000,000d is 59$. But the contestants are very serious even though the grand prize is about 10 thousand $US. I like the NHK network and the other news networks coming from all over the world, you get the news with a different perspective not seen through western eyes. Here is my take on the freedom of speech issue; the internet is vastly changing how communication takes place and right now the controlling governments are at a loss to keep it under their thumb, so demonstrations of their flagging power are the results. Religious freedom in Vietnam, the Christian type; the complaint is that the Govt. is there after the donation plate is passed and takes its' percentage, the churches have to pay taxes just like any other business. IMO. If you think that you can say anything you want, anywhere you want, anytime you want anywhere in this world you are sadly mistaken or naive, there is always someone who will disagree with you and an ass woopin may be the immediate outcome and an arrest and a conviction the final outcome. It is too bad but thats the way I see it.

[KEN JENSEN]

Originally Posted by sgnsteve

...If you think that you can say anything you want, anywhere you want, anytime you want anywhere in this world you are sadly mistaken or naive, there is always someone who will disagree with you and an ass woopin may be the immediate outcome and an arrest and a conviction the final outcome. It is too bad but thats the way I see it.

Of course your absolutely right with the above Steve; but, some places are more restrictive than others. I sort of lean towards the GOOD OL' U.S.A. as the BEST place to be when it comes to overall FREEDOM!

[sgnsteve]

Ken, no doubt about that but the US has had its growing pains and is still evolving. Americans enjoy a freedom unprecedented by any nation in history, it just took awhile.

[Miss Saigon]

According to the US State department, all internet access in Vietnam must go through goverment portals.

So let someone in Vietnam start posting on the web about the need for more democracy and see how long it takes for the knock on the door.

As for limited speach. There is a big difference between yelling fire in a crowded theater, and speaking in favor of democracy.

[Poor Old Spike]

Buddhist monks can be quite militant at times, so no wonder the Vietnam Govt keep a wary eye on them, but I can't see why they're also worried about christians, it makes no sense

[ALOHA RONNIE]

Originally Posted by Poor Old Spike

Buddhist monks can be quite militant at times, so no wonder the Vietnam Govt keep a wary eye on them, but I can't see why they're also worried about christians, it makes no sense

.

NEVER FORGET



CLARITY =


Prominent Vietnam Pastor freed from Communist Jail - NGUYEN CONG CHINH

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2325217/posts



NEVER FORGET

[sgnsteve]

Well ... then ..maybe... I should get off this forum.... for my own survival.

[KEN JENSEN]

Originally Posted by Poor Old Spike

Buddhist monks can be quite militant at times, so no wonder the Vietnam Govt keep a wary eye on them, but I can't see why they're also worried about christians, it makes no sense

I believe that I've met and known a lot of Christians that have no problem in "picking up the sword" to smite evil.

Governments are all about "controlling the masses". When religious practices and/or zealots get on a roll, and clash with any Govt's "control of the masses", then the Government tends to take action (through laws and/or other harsh measures).

Even the U.S., and other "so called" democratic nations, make laws restricting religious practices. Please provide me with one or more examples of "developed nations" where this isn't true!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

Originally Posted by Poor Old Spike

I can just imagine a dialog-

USA- "We're concerned over free speech in Vietnam"
VIETNAM- "So invade us"..

.

NEVER FORGET



The first invasion of Vietnam actually took place when French Communism invaded the head of a young vietnamese Paris University student named HO CHI MINH during the 1920's.

And that same head then went home afterwards committed to Communizing all of Southeast Asia.

When HO CHI MINH later promised those living in Communist North Vietnam that everything would get better in a Vietnam unified under Communism,
...everything got much worse instead in both the North and the South after the Fall of Saigon.

(This per a former North Vietnamese woman soldier who went South to fight, because of a false prophet's lie to many, and then was forced to flee to America from a far worse off Vietnam.

"HO CHI MINH lied to us. HO CHI MINH lied to us" she was later free to angrily state for all to hear in a still free Unitied States of America)


Real human tragedies that we American Soldiers were so selflessly fighting to prevent from happening long ago in a land far away during the Vietnam War:

They are still soldiers

http://www.ArmchairGeneral.com/forum...ad.php?t=66978




NEVER FORGET

[sgnsteve]

The Buddhist are not watched with a wary eye at all, they are not militant, they have been a part of the oriental society for centuries and by and large left alone until something highly egregious happens. Internet filtering is and has been practiced all over the globe. Japan stopped filtering because it became no longer cost effective. @$ any kid will tell you the way to defeat the filter is by 'leetspeak' or other methods, so I take heart in people's ingenuity and intelligence to overcome the temporary impediments placed by those countries. Soon it will become obvious that filtering is a futile effort when the energy expended does'nt give the desired results. I am really tempted to make a comment here about parrots...a highly intelligent bird with excellent plumage that I admire greatly.