This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25314583
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
How Lenin's statue in Ukraine silenced news in Vietnam | How Lenin's statue in Ukraine silenced news in Vietnam |
(about 3 hours later) | |
As protesters gathered in the Ukrainian capital Kiev in late November, the authorities in Vietnam probably gave little thought to a story unfolding thousands of miles away. | |
The blockade by protesters angry at a government U-turn on a free trade deal with the EU was widely covered in the Vietnamese press and proved a popular subject on social media. | The blockade by protesters angry at a government U-turn on a free trade deal with the EU was widely covered in the Vietnamese press and proved a popular subject on social media. |
But everything changed in Vietnam when the statue of Vladimir Lenin came crashing down in Kiev. | But everything changed in Vietnam when the statue of Vladimir Lenin came crashing down in Kiev. |
On Sunday a group of protesters smashed and dismembered the city's statue of the Russian revolutionary leader. | On Sunday a group of protesters smashed and dismembered the city's statue of the Russian revolutionary leader. |
Transgression too far? | Transgression too far? |
As was to be expected, the news was quickly and widely reported on all major websites in Vietnam. | As was to be expected, the news was quickly and widely reported on all major websites in Vietnam. |
On the BBC Vietnamese website, it went straight to the most read spot, proving even more popular than coverage of the death of Mandela and protests in Thailand. | On the BBC Vietnamese website, it went straight to the most read spot, proving even more popular than coverage of the death of Mandela and protests in Thailand. |
But within 24 hours, all that changed in Vietnam - there was soon no trace to be found of articles mentioning the toppling of Lenin. State media coverage of Ukraine's continuing unrest was subdued. | But within 24 hours, all that changed in Vietnam - there was soon no trace to be found of articles mentioning the toppling of Lenin. State media coverage of Ukraine's continuing unrest was subdued. |
The most plausible explanation - say many analysts - is that the toppling of the statue of the revolutionary struck a nerve in Vietnam's Communist government. | The most plausible explanation - say many analysts - is that the toppling of the statue of the revolutionary struck a nerve in Vietnam's Communist government. |
Where previously authorities saw little harm in fairly neutral coverage of a country so far away, the fate of the carved and polished red Labrodorite Lenin was a transgression too far and they suddenly developed cold feet. | Where previously authorities saw little harm in fairly neutral coverage of a country so far away, the fate of the carved and polished red Labrodorite Lenin was a transgression too far and they suddenly developed cold feet. |
The Soviet leader is still revered by the ruling Communist Party in Vietnam, where his birthday is still celebrated each year. | The Soviet leader is still revered by the ruling Communist Party in Vietnam, where his birthday is still celebrated each year. |
It may well have been an unwelcome reminder of countless statues of Lenin and other Soviet leaders being brought down as the former Soviet Union collapsed. | It may well have been an unwelcome reminder of countless statues of Lenin and other Soviet leaders being brought down as the former Soviet Union collapsed. |
Vietnam has its own notable statue. A 5.2m-high (18ft) bronze figure of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin on a 2.7m marble pedestal peers down at passers-by in central Hanoi. | Vietnam has its own notable statue. A 5.2m-high (18ft) bronze figure of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin on a 2.7m marble pedestal peers down at passers-by in central Hanoi. |
The statue was given to Vietnam by the Soviet Union in 1982. It overlooks some of Hanoi's most important sights. | The statue was given to Vietnam by the Soviet Union in 1982. It overlooks some of Hanoi's most important sights. |
Lenin has become very much part of the landscape and few of those strolling through the park he is placed in would give him much thought. | Lenin has become very much part of the landscape and few of those strolling through the park he is placed in would give him much thought. |
The official Vietnam News Agency described those who knocked down the statue as "extremists". | The official Vietnam News Agency described those who knocked down the statue as "extremists". |
Meanwhile, Thanh Nien, a major newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City, said "hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters" toppled the statue of the founder of the Soviet Union. Its tone of disapproval was similar. | Meanwhile, Thanh Nien, a major newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City, said "hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters" toppled the statue of the founder of the Soviet Union. Its tone of disapproval was similar. |
Cyber silence | Cyber silence |
Then the state media machine kicked in. After all, statues of Vietnam's own communist revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh are also to be found in cities around the country. | Then the state media machine kicked in. After all, statues of Vietnam's own communist revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh are also to be found in cities around the country. |
There was cyber silence in Vietnam as articles were pulled from the websites. | There was cyber silence in Vietnam as articles were pulled from the websites. |
On Google, when one clicked on the headlines, one would be notified of "errors" - although many articles could still be found via Google Cache. | On Google, when one clicked on the headlines, one would be notified of "errors" - although many articles could still be found via Google Cache. |
The BBC was told that editors at some newspapers received "instruction on telephones" from the Ideological Department of the Communist Party, which enforces media censorship and control in Vietnam. | The BBC was told that editors at some newspapers received "instruction on telephones" from the Ideological Department of the Communist Party, which enforces media censorship and control in Vietnam. |
But once news came out that the story had been censored, Vietnamese on social media started to become aware of just how sensitive the party was to that particular story. | But once news came out that the story had been censored, Vietnamese on social media started to become aware of just how sensitive the party was to that particular story. |
It is actually when the stories disappeared that people began to notice. | It is actually when the stories disappeared that people began to notice. |
"Politicians and leaders should learn to face the truth. You cannot hide everything any more," one user wrote on the BBC Vietnamese Facebook page. | "Politicians and leaders should learn to face the truth. You cannot hide everything any more," one user wrote on the BBC Vietnamese Facebook page. |
Indeed, had the authorities not become so fearful of news in Ukraine fuelling dissent in Vietnam, readers may well have glanced over the images of a fallen giant without giving a second thought to the bronze figure standing in Hanoi's Lenin Park. | Indeed, had the authorities not become so fearful of news in Ukraine fuelling dissent in Vietnam, readers may well have glanced over the images of a fallen giant without giving a second thought to the bronze figure standing in Hanoi's Lenin Park. |
Previous version
1
Next version