Vietnam FM Dismisses Rights Group's Accusations as 'Not Worth Commenting On'

Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed accusations of human rights abuses by Human Rights Watch (HRW) regarding the prosecution of individuals involved with a book on Ho Chi Minh, stating they are "not worth commenting on." This response came from spokesperson Pham Thu Hang during the ministry's regular press briefing on July 23, when asked for Vietnam's stance on HRW's statement. According to Vietnamese media reports, HRW, established in the US in 1978, has for many years frequently issued comments with malicious intent, based on false information about the situation in countries worldwide, including Vietnam. The previous day, July 22, HRW had issued a statement calling for the immediate release of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nam and four other individuals prosecuted in connection with the book "Chuyện với Thanh - Lời kể mới về ánh sáng" (A New Account of the Light). In the statement, Ms. Elaine Pearson, HRW's Asia Director, was quoted as saying, "The wave of arrests over a book about Ho Chi Minh sends a chilling message to the entire literary, journalistic, and publishing community that pronouncements of a new era of 'ascension' only mean increased repression." Before Mr. Nam's arrest, his book had been widely reported by a series of Vietnamese media outlets, only to have the articles removed after some individuals accused him of "distorting history." Following his arrest, a wave of condemnation continued on social media against those believed to be associated with the book "Chuyện với Thanh." In the early days of July, the government and mainstream media outlets gradually began to adopt discourse aimed at moderating and cooling down the wave of public condemnation. Under Vietnam's one-party system, government control over freedom of expression is strict, with critical discourse, especially concerning national leaders and history, tending to be severely suppressed. This incident once again demonstrates the government's stance in managing the domestic discourse space and eliminating information deemed unfavorable to the regime. While Vietnam continues its economic growth, the balance with political freedoms remains a constant challenge.