In early July 1999, the retired general-turned-dissident Tran Do officially applied for the permit to start the first independent newspaper in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. His application was promptly rejected by the communist government, who controls all publishing facilities and all forms of public information distribution in Vietnam.
Various international organizations have voiced their strong protests to Hanoi's decision, based on the numerous international covenants on human and civil rights the government of Vietnam has signed.
Following are two of those protests from the Texas Friends For A Free Vietnam Committee and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN).
July 29, 1999
PRESS RELEASE
Recently, we learned that a leading dissident, retired General Tran Do, was denied a permission to publish a newspaper by Vietnam Government.
General Tran Do, a respected member of the Communist Party until last January, has been a Party stalwart for nearly 60 years. He applied for a permit to publish a newspaper. However, the Ministry of Culture and Information of Vietnam Government refused to let the public see General Do's newspaper. This refusal constitutes a violation of the right to press freedom, as guaranteed by the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which Vietnam had ratified.
We, Texas Friends for A Free Vietnam Committee -an organization for supporting human rights especially the right of press freedom- strongly protest the Vietnam Government for refusing permission to publish a newspaper.
We also call on Vietnam leaders to join the civilized nations in the world and urge Vietnam Ministry of Culture and Information to let General Do publish his newspaper without any restraint.
Thank you for your attention to this violation of Press freedom.
Contact: David Stockman
Phone: (713) 640-4268
Pager: (713) 687-1625