Home Viet Nam Human Rights » Analysis-Comment » When national security threaten by “freedom of speech” (Part 1)

When national security threaten by “freedom of speech” (Part 1)

2/2/15
The Western world was shaken when gunmen called themselves al-Qaeda members and rushed to shoot into Charlie Hebdo editorial office in Paris, making 12 people dead and 10 wounded. The magazine had been attacked in 2011 when published a caricature of the Prophet Mohammed. Then, A state funeral was held by France and other countries in the European Union let the flag at half mast for commemoration. Thousands of French people took to the streets  to denote unity with banners “I'm Charlie”. This text was lit on the large electronic board. Many French newspapers switched to black background and wrote on the front page “I'm Charlie” to commemorate colleagues. In the UK, Germany, Belgium, Italia,... the people were also  down the road. Millions of the newspaper were bought after the terrorist attacks as a way to support victims.
In Vietnam, the group who self-identify as “democracy defenders”, then the site, radios of Vietnamese overseas have also radically hostile to exploit the event to praise the “free speech”. They considered that it is an absolute value that is protected by the world and then slandered the State of Vietnam “suppress freedom of speech”. On the internet, an extant image of a football team and a man called “intellectual” also stretched "I'm Charlie” both in Vietnamese and English and some dependent slogans such as “I’m Ba Sam”, “I’m Bo Lap”... This action was exposed by the online community because their trick was not much different than the way they used to show “patriotism” but raised slogans to praise and call freedom for those who commited tax evasion, disturbed public order and judged by law enforcement agencies such as Le Quoc Quan, Bui Thi Minh Hang,... In the January 11th evening, BBC reported that two “intellectual people” came to the French Embassy in Hanoi with similar slogans for “representing the freedom-loving people in Vietnam”. Some other guys showed off some photos on the cover of the French newspaper Le Monde to demonstrate unlimited freedom of speech is the goal of the civilized world. Their actions were not much different from the ridiculousness that they were performed in 2014 when the event in Hong Kong (China) occurred in 2014.
Looking back at history in 1970, the predecessor of Charlie Hebdo newspaper put a satirical tittle to comment to the death of Charles de Gaulle, it was banned immediately by the French Ministry of the Interior. After that it was reborn under the name Charlie Hebdo today. Stephane Charbonnier - editor of the magazine, also understood the danger that he and other must confront. Charbonnier, pen name "Charb", was in the list of the most hunted person by al-Qaeda since 2012. Since 2011, he had had bodyguards. His newspaper had been burned after the picture of Prophet Mohammed was posted on the home page of the magazine. Also in 2012, when Charlie Hebdo planned to publish a series of controversial cartoons, for examples naked Mohammed or he was in a wheelchair pushed by a Jew... The French government asked Charlie Hebdo to give up their intentions but Charlie Hebdo has not abandoned the idea. After the picture was published, France had to close embassies, cultural centers and schools in 20 countries for fear of reprisals.
The “fans of Western liberty”  praised the actions of a country to accept huge losses to ensure only a small group of people to say what they want. Some other opinions that the French government in 2012 did not accept the loss of economic diplomacy to protect freedom of speech but they know that it can not be banned at that time because Charlie Hebdo was famous enough to mobilize public opinion in their favor if such ban was introduced. In 2012, the judge in the Supreme Court might have tougher views on free speech than in 1970. Closing embassies, cultural centers,... was just the irresistible action as the French government might also know that they would lose if the case was in progress. At that time, a group of Muslims in France sued over the content of Mohammed on Charlie Hebdo but French courts rejected. Muslims had resorted to legal means but helpless in France... (To be continued)


Chia sẻ bài viết ^^
Other post

All comments [ 10 ]


John Smith 3/2/15 09:37

In a society where human rights are enshrined in the law and the State always creates conditions to ensure the development of human rights, freedom of the press and freedom of speech are important factors contributing to common development.

Gentle Moon 3/2/15 09:38

Recognising the role of the internet, the Vietnamese Government has introduced measures to encourage internet for economic, social and cultural development, assisting administrative reforms, enhancing people’s lives and ensuring the basic rights of the people.

LawrenceSamuels 3/2/15 09:39

According to a report of We Are Social, an independent research organisation on global social media, the number of internet users in Vietnam was 30.8 million as of December 2012, accounting for 34% of the population, beating the global average of 33%.

Red Star 3/2/15 09:40

Most bloggers use their blogs as a place to express their thoughts, show emotions and share knowledge.

yobro yobro 3/2/15 09:41

In fact, not only in Vietnam are there sanctions against the acts of abusing the freedom of speech and freedom of the press to break the laws but also in the United States, Germany, France, the Republic of Korea and Singapore there are laws with strict punishments for abusing freedom of speech and freedom of the press

For A Peace World 3/2/15 09:42

Those who usually praise press freedom under the so-called “Republic of Vietnam” should know that Article 16 in the 1956 Constitution of this regime states, “Every citizen has the right to freedom of expression.

Socialist Society 3/2/15 09:43

The exercise of the right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press in Vietnam is now facing some difficulties since people are not fully aware of the law and the media system is developed but still lacks professionalism.

Me Too! 3/2/15 09:44

Hostile forces and some unfriendly individuals abuse the mass media to exert negative impacts on society and capitalise on the enforcement of the law to slander the Vietnamese State.

Voice of people 3/2/15 09:45

we believe that with the correct point of view and policy of the Vietnamese State on freedom of speech and freedom of the press, both in the short term and in the long term, all Vietnamese people can fully enjoy these rights and be allowed to develop in a comprehensive and harmonious manner, thereby making substantive contributions to social development.

Vietnam Love 3/2/15 09:45

Limitations to freedom of speech can be exercised by law enforcement or social condemnation.

Your comments