This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8253832.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Analysts say the authorities want to prevent blogs becoming a news source and a tool for opposition groups. | |
| 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. |
| 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 | |
| A day later 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 ruling Communist Party, many Vietnamese have turned to the internet to share information and discuss topics of interest. | |
| 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. | |
| "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. |
| The Vietnamese government does not want anti-China sentiments to get out of hand. | |
| But some people in the country point out that blogs can also serve as a networking tool for groups with a different agenda from the Communist Party to organise face-to-face meetings. | |
| "Online activities may make the authorities wary, but offline ones are what they're disturbed about," says a Ho Chi Minh City-based journalist who wishes to remain anonymous. | |
| "They cannot control the internet, but they can and will punish whoever wants to act on the ideas they consider reactionary," the journalist says. | |
| In his opinion, the latest developments might be part of the ongoing 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. | 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. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |