Vietnam arrests prominent journalist over alleged anti-state activities

Vietnamese authorities on October 6 arrested one of the nation's most prominent independent journalists on charges of storing and distributing documents and items that aim to oppose the State, a charge similar to that of sedition in India. According to The Guardian, Pham Doan Trang was arrested on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, authorities confirmed that she had been charged for allegedly participating in anti-state activities. 

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The arrest took place on the same day when Vietnam and the United States were holding the 24th annual human rights dialogue with a primary focus on freedom of expression. Trang is known for her vocal support to the LGBTQ community, women's rights, and environmental issues. She recently spoke online about the highly sensitive Dong Tam Village land rights issue, where police officials and locals clashed over the construction of a military airport on farmlands. The incident saw four casualties as one villager and three policemen died. 

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State censorship

Experts argue that Trang's arrest is part of the greater steps being taken to target activists and their right to free speech and expression. As per reports, the Vietnamese Communist Party is preparing to bring in a tough cybersecurity law in the upcoming Congress meeting, which will require Facebook, Google, and other online platforms to censor content deemed anti-state by the government. Online platforms reportedly face pressure from the government in Vietnam to censor content as per their wish. 

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Trang's arrest received international condemnation from organisations such as the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch said that despite being constantly targetted by the state, Trang continued to raise her voice for human rights and democracy, while Ming Yu Hah of Amnesty International called the arrest "outrageous" and condemned Vietnam's serious human rights problems. 

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