Highlighted provisions of Vietnamese Press Law (Amended)
In April 5th, Vietnamese National Assembly officially
passed Press Law (Amended) after acquiring and revising from opinions of delegates.
1. Activities of journalists:
After discussing, National Assembly Standing Committee
decided to revise the content of the right permitting the journalist to contact
directly to lawyers or judges for interview. The old regulation in Draft did
not cover all subjects participating in the procedure under Vietnamese Criminal Procedure Code.
2. Granting Press cards:
This provision on condition of granting Press cards was
considered changing more reasonably in the actual situations:
- - The condition - “…shall graduate from college or higher for people working in the press agency of religious organizations” was rejected;
- - The working time increased from three years to two years for the first card.
- - Adding the new regulation on the case of people who were retrieved the Press card due to being prosecuted. If they have innocent conclusions from component agencies, the management agency shall return (not “renew”) the Press Card.
- - Retaining provisions on renewing the Press card every 5 years, National Assembly Standing Committee said that it would be essential in the situation that some Journalists retired but still use this card for improper purposes.
3. Freedom of speech:
Press law (Amended) will not promulgate the provision – “Reporters,
journalists shall not use social networks to promote principles which are contrary
to the purposes of the press agencies.” In advance, most delegates believed that
above activity has belonged to the “Freedom of speech” of citizen’s rights in accordance
to Vietnamese Constitution.
In case that it is necessary to manage journalists, press
agencies may provide this content in internal operation regulations.
Press Law (Amended) will takes effect from January 1st 2017.
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