Vietnam sentences leading journalist to prison for criticising government in Facebook posts
A Vietnamese court sentenced prominent independent journalist Huy Duc to 30 months in prison on February 27 for Facebook posts that criticised the government, according to state media reports.
Duc, who is 63 years old, previously worked for influential state-run newspapers before creating one of the country's most popular blogs and Facebook accounts. Through these platforms, he frequently criticized the Vietnamese Communist Party's leadership on issues such as corruption, media control, and the country’s relations with China.
The Hanoi court convicted Duc of "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state" after he posted 13 articles on Facebook. These articles reportedly garnered significant interaction, with many comments and shares, which the indictment claimed had a negative impact on social order and safety.
Duc, whose real name is Truong Huy San, expressed regret during the trial, admitting that some of his posts violated state interests but emphasising that he never intended to oppose the Communist Party or the government. He took full responsibility for his actions and apologized for the content of his posts.
The trial, which lasted only a few hours, took place just months after his arrest in June 2024. During his online activity prior to the arrest, Duc had specifically targeted Vietnam's top leaders, including Prime Minister To Lam and his predecessor, Nguyen Phu Trong. However, it remains unclear whether these particular posts contributed to the charges against him.
Vietnam, a one-party state, is known for its stringent control over the media and harsh penalties for dissent. It ranks among the top countries in the world for imprisoning journalists, according to the press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The conviction of Huy Duc follows similar recent cases, including the jailing of blogger Duong Van Thai for 12 years over anti-state content and a prominent former lawyer who was imprisoned for three years in January for Facebook posts.
Huy Duc's career as a journalist includes serving as a senior army lieutenant before being dismissed in 2009 for criticizing the Soviet Union's past actions. He also spent a year at Harvard University in 2012 as a Nieman Fellow.
In May 2024, just before his arrest, Duc shared a Facebook post urging that "No country can develop sustainably based on fear."
