This article was originally published in Vietnamese on Luật Khoa tạp chí on August 12, 2023.

***

The silence of the Vietnamese press in the past week regarding the case of Nguyen Van Chuong is an indication of an extraordinary level of self-censorship.

After more than a week since the family of the deceased prisoner received a notification to claim the body from the People’s Court of Hai Phong City (on August 4), all Vietnamese-language newspapers abroad reported the news. On social media, almost all political Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) I know have spoken out. Over 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for the postponement of the execution of the death sentence [1].

However, domestically, only one newspaper published an article. The only interview article was posted on Dan Viet on August 8, four days after the incident [2].

The fact that Dan Viet published the article demonstrates that there was no official order prohibiting reporting from above. Whether it was published or not depends on the editorial board’s willingness and courage.

Secondly, the political sensitivity of this case is low. The incident occurred 16 years ago, and many domestic newspapers, such as Tuoi Tre and Tien Phong, have reported it in detail [3][4]. A few years ago, the domestic media was still actively reporting on a similar case involving the death penalty for Ho Duy Hai.

Thirdly, this is a highly newsworthy topic: a newspaper receiving the bodies of many unidentified people in a potentially wrongful conviction case that has lasted for 16 years, involving a network of people and is of community interest. Not to mention the efforts to appeal with images of deer made of nylon or blood-stained letters, which are very likely to attract public attention. In other words, if reported, it will ensure “views.”

No one prohibits it, low political sensitivity, a lot of information and images, and ensuring views – no news organization can ignore this story, even in a country without freedom. In addition to the boiling atmosphere on social media in recent days, the self-censorship phenomenon of the domestic press shows signs of a completely paralyzed press.

This is the result of a comprehensive crackdown since 2019 by the government to eliminate all “off-line” signs in the press. No one knows how many newspapers Vietnam has now. Previous statistics with estimates ranging from 800 to 1,000 have expired. The press planning project and the anti-“journalization” campaign have shaken up this system for inspection and punishment. Many newspapers have been eliminated. Many online newspapers have been downgraded to “magazines,” meaning they are prohibited from reporting on politics [5]. Zing News – a typical case – is currently blocked simply for reporting things that are not its business [6].

Vietnam has never been a country with a free press, that’s true. But only when the freedom environment within the framework that we have long had disappeared do we see how stifling society has become. A week after hearing that Nguyen Van Chuong may be facing execution, no one knows any more information. No one questions the authorities, no one seeks documents, no one analyzes the case files. Only the wronged people still stand outside the public reception office with cries for help that cannot pass through the security gate.

In just a few short years, the dynamics of the domestic press have disappeared. In a few more years, all editorial offices will become People’s newspapers.