By Leigh Burke | Project Leader
Vietnam is the world’s second biggest prison for netizens, after China. It is ranked 175th in the World Press Freedom Index of 2015. Newspapers, radios and TVs are controlled or closely watched by the government and bloggers therefore play a great part in freely reporting information. The authorities use the most spurious grounds for arresting bloggers who provide outspoken news coverage. A total of 29 are currently detained on charges of “abusing democratic freedoms,” “subversion,” “anti-government propaganda” or “trying to overthrow the government.” Reporters Without Borders is fully part of the international effort to help promote the Vietnamese blogosphere. The organization has provided many assistance grants to bloggers, led international campaigns for their release and has circulated a petition signed by more than 30,000 people. For example, RWB USA worked tirelessly for the release of Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Tien Trung since his arrest in 2009. His case has been adopted and defended by US Representative Alan Lowenthal on the recommendation of RWB USA since 2013. Nguyen Tien Trung 's fiancé spoke at RWB USA annual press conference in February 2014 at the National Press Club. Nguyen Tien Trung was released in April 2014.
We thank everyone who has donated to our cause. It has been a very difficult year for press freedom and your encouragement is essential to our success.
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