Comments on: Are Expat Bloggers in Vietnam affected by the Draft Blog Resolution?

By: SaigonNezumi (Kevin)

SaigonNezumi (Kevin) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:58:32 +0000

@chris: Everything I post is correct…according to my views

By: SaigonNezumi (Kevin)

SaigonNezumi (Kevin) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:57:47 +0000

@Jenkins Butterworth: In all honesty, I do not think anyone really knows when a blogger is imprisoned or not. If the media reports it, this means the information was given by the government.

As for the ‘fear’ comment, I do not think people in Vietnam fear the government anymore. There is just too much frustration going on. Vietnam is changing, quite fast.

By: SaigonNezumi (Kevin)

SaigonNezumi (Kevin) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:55:18 +0000

@Craig N: Haha, they can still find you. You can run, but you can’t hide

By: SaigonNezumi (Kevin)

SaigonNezumi (Kevin) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:54:44 +0000

@Tracy: I agree with on this point now. If you have a blog, you really should not censor yourself, per se. The whole point is to express your opinions and views. I am guilty of it in the past though.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:14:51 +0000

Anh Hung has a good point. Like many expats, some thoughts that reasonates into a blog could be deem as harmless and unpolitical in nature; however, it can be deem as “incorrect information about…political system…” regard of the source of your information. Sometimes, it doesn’t even have to be political. Merely comparing your ability to exercise your rights in certain country or your home country versus in Vietnam can be deem as “incorrect information.” I wouldn’t blog anything about the political system at all.

By: Anh Hùng

Anh Hùng — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:36:23 +0000

If you continue writing what you’re writing, you won’t be running into problems at all. However, the particular blog on “changing political environment” may be a good target for them, so be careful

By: chris

chris — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:33:30 +0000

No problem! Just make sure you don’t post any “…incorrect information about religion, political system, state and government of Viet Nam.”

By: Ken

Ken — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:52:12 +0000

Honestly, I think everyone has a point. But let me tell you this, Martin Luther King was only 1 man, Ghandi was also a very harmless 1 man. What the Vietnamese government is shooting for is preverntion in any shape or form. I don’t want to get too political here but I’m sure you have somewhat of an imagination. Of course, if you are in their country you have to abid by their law and political system. Remember when you are talking about rights, you are really asking “what rights am I potected for.” After all, even though you feel your rights are God given, the protection of your rights really comes down to the government of the country. In the case of the U.S. your God given rights are mostly protected, not all country have that doctrine though. So, exercise your rights accordingly. Just because you can do it at home, doesn’t mean you can do it else where =D.

By: Jenkins Butterworth

Jenkins Butterworth — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:07:52 +0000

Tracy – it is very true – but I also wonder how many expats pay that much attention to events like the imprisonment of journalists etc. Trouble is, nobody really relishes the idea of prison and expats are no more likely to avoid jail than the vietnamese – just look at the expat bloggers being imprisioned in Thailand.

It also begs the question – just how important is an expat’s opinion anyway? Surely if the Vietnamese people want change they will demand it themselves – exposure in overseas media may well help their cause, but will an average small expat blog that normally discusses popping to a coffeshop with students really make a difference?

I don’t mean to disagree with you – I have considered blogging about things that have upset me several times but there is always the fear that it may come back to haunt you, or worse still as Craig points out people you love or care about in Vietnam. But then that fear disappoints me, as I would think I would have the courage to speak out – I certainly would if I was at home – but then this isn’t my country.. do I have the right?

By: Craig N

Craig N — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:57:33 +0000

I am just glad that I didn’t register with my last name. I would hate for the thought police to come knocking on my family’s door in Saigon.