ACTION ALERT - VIETNAM

19 March 1997

SOURCE: Human Rights Watch, New York City

(HRW/IFEX) - The following is the full text of a letter sent by Human Rights Watch to Vo Van Kiet and Do Muoi, respectively Prime Minister of Vietnam and Secretary-General of the Vietnam Communist Party, protesting the recent government decision to establish strict controls on domestic Internet use.

"March 17, 1997

"Mr. Vo Van Kiet, Prime Minister, Socialist Republic of Vietnam Mr. Do Muoi, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Community Party

"Dear Prime Minister & Secretary-General of the Vietnam Communist Party,

"We are writing on behalf of Human Rights Watch/Asia to express our concern over the recent decision by the government of Vietnam to establish strict controls on Internet use.

"Under a new decree which we understand will take effect March 17, the government will manage domestic use of the Internet, supervise all Internet content, and control international links between Vietnamese users and the World Wide Web.

"This decree may have unfortunate consequences for Vietnam, as it comes at a time when the government is trying to foster high-technology and export-oriented industries. It will prevent Vietnamese citizens from gaining inexpensive access to the Net through a server outside the country and thus prevent them from exchanging ideas on how to integrate Vietnam's economy into the global market. It will also narrow the opportunity for international communications and the exchange of ideas on topics that could benefit Vietnam's development. The Internet, as it exists today, provides one of the best ways for scientists and academicians to share knowledge globally and learn from each other's experiences. Any attempt to control the content can discourage the free flow of information even among this community.

"The Vietnam government's own use of Web pages demonstrates how the Internet can be used to propound a particular point of view. Its citizens, so long as they are not using their site for purposes incompatible with freedom of expression, for example, inciting violence, should have the same opportunity to share views as their government.

"As stated in Article 19 (2) of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, to which Vietnam is a party:

"`Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing, or in print, in the form of art or through any other medium of his choice.'

"We hope that the Vietnam government will retract these new regulations and support the development of an unfettered Internet.

"Sincerely,

Dinah PoKempner
(Deputy General Counsel)

Jagdish Parikh
(On-line Research Associate)"

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Similar appeals may be sent to authorities:
-calling the measures a serious violation of freedom of expression
-urging them to retract these regulations

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Do Muoi
Secretary General
The Vietnamese Communist Party
Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Fax: +84 4 259 205 (or try +84 4 459 205)

Nguyen Manh Cam
Foreign Minister
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1 Ton That Dam
Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Fax: +84 4 259 205

the Vietnamese diplomatic representative to your country

(in the United States)
His Excellency Le Van Bang
Ambassador
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
1233 20th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036 United States
Fax: + 1 202 861 0917

(in Canada)
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
25 B Davidson Dr.
Gloucester, Ontario
K1J 6L7 Canada
Fax: +1 613 744 5072

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

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Human Rights Watch
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tel: +1 202 371 6592, fax: +1 202371 0124,
e-mail: hrwdc@hrw.org, Internet: http://www.hrw.org/

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