Calls to free blogger

2008-08-19 10:02

Hanoi - Reporters Without Borders has called for a blogger arrested by Vietnamese officials on suspicion of tax fraud to be freed, saying he was detained for comments that went against the communist government.

The accusation is an "utterly baseless charge that is just a pretext to prevent him from posting more articles critical of the government", the media rights group said in a statement on Monday, referring to blogger Dieu Cay.

Dieu Cay, whose real name is Nguyen Hoang Hai, was arrested days before the Olympic torch's journey through Ho Chi Minh City, which Hanoi promised China would pass without incident.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Justice newspaper confirmed the arrest, saying the blogger was being held on suspicion of tax fraud.

However, Reporters Without Borders said Dieu Cay was arrested because his comments went against the Chinese government's policies on the South China Sea.

"Dieu Cay posted articles criticising China's policy in the South China Sea, where both the Chinese and Vietnamese governments claim sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel Islands," the France-based media rights group said.

"The (Vietnamese) authorities are copying their Chinese neighbours both as regards internet filtering and harassment of internet users. We call for Dieu Cay's release."

Dieu Cay is affiliated to a group of bloggers known as the Free Vietnamese Journalists' Club, some of whose members have been threatened and arrested on several occasions, Reporters Without Borders said.

- AFP