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From the time he spent in a Vietnamese prison to his life in exile in Los Angeles, Nguyen Van Hai, who blogged under the name Dieu Cay, has refused to be silenced in his fight for a free press. For Titi Tran in Los Angeles, Cristina Caicedo Smit has the story.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptPF: Vietnam Diaspora Media
HEADLINE: ‘Truth Remains Unknown’ in Vietnam, Exiled Blogger Says
TEASER: When Nguyen Van Hai saw corruption, hardship go unreported in his homeland, he founded a movement to bring audiences the news
PUBLISHED AT: 08/10/2023 at 8:45AM
BYLINE: Titi Tran
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Los Angeles, CA
VIDEOGRAPHER: Paulo Martinez
VIDEO EDITOR: Cristina Caicedo Smit
SCRIPT EDITORS: JJ, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA , AFP as directed
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:00
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TV/R
EDITOR NOTES: Adapted from Inside Story. THIS VERSION IS FOR HOUSE USE. DO NOT POST TO VOA PRESS FREEDOM. ))
((INTRO))
[[From the time he spent in a Vietnamese prison to his life in exile in Los Angeles, Nguyen Van Hai, who blogged under the name Dieu Cay, has refused to be silenced in his fight for a free press. For Titi Tran in Los Angeles, Cristina Caicedo Smit has the story.]]
((NARRATION))
For nine years, Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Van Hai has been a free man. But he had to leave his homeland for the U.S. to find that freedom.
Back in Vietnam, Hai, who is better known by his pen name Dieu Cay, was jailed for his work. But he never stopped thinking about how to end censorship — even while in prison.
((NARRATION))
Hai was inspired to start reporting more than 15 years ago, while traveling in Vietnam.
((Nguyen Van Hai, Vietnamese Blogger)) ((Male in Vietnamese))
“I shared photos from my travels to various parts of the country. During those trips, I realized many people were living in poverty, facing corruption in localities and witnessing the abuse of power by officials.”
((NARRATION))
But in Vietnam, one of the most repressive regions globally for press freedom, journalists are often too scared to report on such issues.
Bloggers like Hai are rare sources of freely reported news.
((Nguyen Van Hai, Vietnamese Blogger)) ((Male in Vietnamese))
“We discussed the role of the people and the power of the press in an authoritarian society, where the state-controlled media suppresses anyone they want to, and the truth remains unknown.”
((NARRATION))
With friends he founded the Free Journalists Club, a group of bloggers reporting on stories about politics, human rights and other sensitive issues.
They found success — but at a cost.
((Nguyen Van Hai, Vietnamese Blogger)) ((Male in Vietnamese))
“I and all the members of the Free Journalists Club were closely monitored by the authorities. They monitored us and then turned to suppression, beating.”
((NARRATION))
In April 2008, police arrested Hai on accusations of tax evasion, a charge that rights groups say was an excuse to keep him silent.
In 2012, while still in prison, he was sentenced to a further 12 years for “propaganda against the state.” Most of his time was spent in solitary confinement.
Finally, in 2014, Vietnam freed Hai — but he had to go straight into exile. Now the city of Los Angeles is his refuge.
Vietnamese authorities did not respond to VOA’s request for comment about the country’s media environment.
((NAT SOUND))
Hai is still dedicated to advocating for a Vietnam that allows bloggers like him to write without fear of retaliation.
((NARRATOR))
Others in the diaspora welcome his efforts.
((For radio: Nguyen Ba Tung is president of the Vietnam Human Rights Network))
((Nguyen Ba Tung, Vietnam Human Rights Network President ((Male/Vietnamese))
“Vietnam’s communist party controls all media inside the country. People are thirsty for the free flow of information, but those who try to speak up or to talk about human rights have been increasingly stifled and repressed.”
((NARRATION))
As for Hai, his vision of a Vietnam where people have easy access to a free press encourages him to keep up the fight.
((For Titi Tran in Los Angeles, Cristina Caicedo Smit, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
in Los Angeles
Embargo DateAugust 10, 2023 16:36 EDT
Byline
Titi Tran Cristina Caicedo Smit, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
