HANOI, March 22 (AFP) - Vietnam has enacted a new decree tightening control over demonstrations and banning unauthorized gatherings in a bid to prevent public disorder, officials and state media said.
The text was signed by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on March 18, an official at the Government Office told AFP without providing any further details.
According to state media, the decree requires that all gatherings not organized by the ruling Communist Party or state organs must be approved in advance.
The venue, the slogans to be used and the purpose of the meeting or demonstration must also be registered, but even then local authorities can prevent it from taking place if they fear it could disrupt public order.
"The presidents of people's committees can allow, suspend or cancel the gathering of a high humber of people, even if it has been authorized before, if it is a serious threat to public order or does not follow the authorized programme," the Thanh Nien newspaper said.
The Tien Phong daily said security forces had also been authorised to take "appropriate measures to restore public order," including arresting people and dispersing demonstrators.
The paper added that the decree bans gatherings in front of government buildings, international conference venues and the country's parliament.
The communist nation has witnessed several incidents of unrest in different parts of the country in recent years mainly linked to land expropriation and corruption of local officials.
Demonstrators also sometimes gather in Hanoi in front of government buildings, often waving placards asking for corrupt officials to be punished.
Thousand of ethnic minority people in the country's impoverished Central Highlands region took to the streets in April last year, protesting against confiscation of ancestral lands and religious persecution.
International human rights groups say at least 10 people were killed. The government insists only two people died.