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| Vietnam releases detained blogger | Vietnam releases detained blogger |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Vietnamese blogger detained by police has said she was freed after promising she would quit writing her blog, which has been critical of the government. | A Vietnamese blogger detained by police has said she was freed after promising she would quit writing her blog, which has been critical of the government. |
| The blogger, Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, is the last of three bloggers recently detained and then released by police. | The blogger, Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, is the last of three bloggers recently detained and then released by police. |
| A Vietnam Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said the three had been arrested legally for national security reasons. | A Vietnam Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said the three had been arrested legally for national security reasons. |
| Their arrests are being seen as an effort by the Vietnamese authorities to tighten control over the internet. | Their arrests are being seen as an effort by the Vietnamese authorities to tighten control over the internet. |
| Analysts say the communist government fears it can not control the more than two million personal blogs in Vietnam as they become increasingly popular as an information medium. | Analysts say the communist government fears it can not control the more than two million personal blogs in Vietnam as they become increasingly popular as an information medium. |
| Cyberspace represents a more formidable challenge because anonymous citizens can post their views and exchange ideas with others both inside and outside Vietnam Carlyle Thayer, Australian Defence Force Academy | Cyberspace represents a more formidable challenge because anonymous citizens can post their views and exchange ideas with others both inside and outside Vietnam Carlyle Thayer, Australian Defence Force Academy |
| On 27 August, blogger Bui Thanh Hieu, also known as Nguoi Buon Gio, was arrested in Hanoi. | On 27 August, blogger Bui Thanh Hieu, also known as Nguoi Buon Gio, was arrested in Hanoi. |
| A day later, a journalist, Pham Doan Trang, who worked for one of the most visited semi-official news websites in the country - VietnamNet, was also detained by the security police. She too ran a well-read personal blog. | A day later, a journalist, Pham Doan Trang, who worked for one of the most visited semi-official news websites in the country - VietnamNet, was also detained by the security police. She too ran a well-read personal blog. |
| Blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh was arrested on 2 September in the central city of Nha Trang. All three have now been released. | Blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh was arrested on 2 September in the central city of Nha Trang. All three have now been released. |
| Internet popularity | Internet popularity |
| As official media generally stay silent on any subjects deemed sensitive and controversial by the Communist Party, many Vietnamese have turned to the internet to share information and discuss topics of interest. | As official media generally stay silent on any subjects deemed sensitive and controversial by the Communist Party, many Vietnamese have turned to the internet to share information and discuss topics of interest. |
| "The Vietnam Communist Party and its security apparatus cannot tolerate matters they do not control. Territorial surveillance, bloc wardens and informers work when suspects are territorially based," says Vietnam analyst, Carlyle Thayer, from the Australian Defence Force Academy. | "The Vietnam Communist Party and its security apparatus cannot tolerate matters they do not control. Territorial surveillance, bloc wardens and informers work when suspects are territorially based," says Vietnam analyst, Carlyle Thayer, from the Australian Defence Force Academy. |
| "Cyberspace represents a more formidable challenge because anonymous citizens can post their views and exchange ideas with others both inside and outside Vietnam." | "Cyberspace represents a more formidable challenge because anonymous citizens can post their views and exchange ideas with others both inside and outside Vietnam." |
| Territorial disputes with Beijing over the Paracel and Spratly islands, alongside corruption and religious freedom, are among the most talked about topics. | Territorial disputes with Beijing over the Paracel and Spratly islands, alongside corruption and religious freedom, are among the most talked about topics. |
| But the Vietnamese government does not want anti-China sentiments to get out of hand. | But the Vietnamese government does not want anti-China sentiments to get out of hand. |
| It has also been pursuing a crackdown on political dissidents that saw dozens interrogated and detained in the last couple of months. | It has also been pursuing a crackdown on political dissidents that saw dozens interrogated and detained in the last couple of months. |
| Among them are human rights lawyer Le Cong Dinh, businessman Tran Huynh Duy Thuc and democracy activist Nguyen Tien Trung. | Among them are human rights lawyer Le Cong Dinh, businessman Tran Huynh Duy Thuc and democracy activist Nguyen Tien Trung. |
| Are you in Vietnam? What do you think about the way the authorities are dealing with sensitive content on the internet? Send us your experiences and views using the form below. | |
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