Re: [atlarge-discuss] Government control of Vietnam websites

["Ron Sherwood" <sherwood@islands.vi>]

Thank you, Eric, for bringing this news into perspective.

I, for one, will be very interested in any further information that you may
have as your research continues.

Regards, Ron

----- Original Message -----
From: <eric@hi-tek.com>
To: "Ron Sherwood" <sherwood@islands.vi>
Cc: "IAL" <atlarge-discuss@lists.fitug.de>
Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 2:05 PM
Subject: Re: [atlarge-discuss] Government control of Vietnam websites


> We are currently translating many articles relating to this activity and
> have meetings scheduled this afternoon to discuss the issues.
>
> I can say this about the situation at this time.  My daughter is denied
> internet access at her Junior high school, my son cannot use email at
> his high school and my eldests' college
> threatens monitoring.  This is in the left coast of California.
>
> Now in Vietnam we are more protecting of our children and our recent
> past has caused us great worry.  Bali is close and until the very recent
> past we have been subjected to US
> supported anti-government sentiment.  So we worry a bit more about
> national security and cultural integrity than most countries. Further,
> Vietnams' cultural diversity is one of its'
> greatest gifts and National resources. Our company will assist in anyway
> to help with appropriate publishing and editorializing.  Remember a
> large part of the control over web site
> content is in accordance with the BTA with the USA and copyright
> protection.  The USA requires we crack down on copyright infringement in
> order to trade with them.
>
> But rest assured there is increasing access and an ever increasing
> desire and allowance for the expression of independent thought and words
> in Vietnam.  Those of us working in information
> technology and in the Internet Cafe business's are not worried at all
> about any abridgement of freedom of speech as we know it in SouthEast
> Asia.  The great new leaders of Vietnam
> are assuring us of continued progress and important economic progress.
>
> It is quite ironic that while homeland security issues in the USA are
> abridging our freedom of speech rights and court procedure rights, In
> Vietnam we are moving the other direction.  Yet the associated press
> gives this article instead of one on the USA.  In the USA Big Business
> censors by way of IP interests in Vietnam we censor only for cultural
> integrity.
>
> The GA list of the ICANN fame has far more censorship than anything in
> Vietnam.
>
> If you would like more just ask as time goes by.  Vietnam is on the
> cutting edge of doing things right because they are learning from the
> mistakes of others as they develop into a
> leading nation.
>
> Sincerely, and thank you for your interest,
> Eric
>
> Ron Sherwood wrote:
>
> > Good afternoon, Eric and other members:
> >
> >     Do you have any information on today's AP report?
> >
> > Filed at 9:40 a.m. ET
> >
> > HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- Vietnam has issued new rules requiring businesses
and organizations to get government permission before setting up new Web
sites, an official said Monday.
> >
> > Worried by the increasing numbers of Vietnamese with access to news from
outside sources, officials have been trying to tighten their control over
the Internet.
> >
> > The government recently ordered that owners of the country's estimated
4,000 Internet cafes be held responsible for controlling their clients' Web
surfing.
> >
> > In March, police arrested physician Pham Hong Son for translating and
posting an article on democracy from a U.S. State Department Web site and
posting it on the Internet.
> >
> > In August, the government shut down an online political forum,
TTVNOnline.com, for posting information critical of the government.
> >
> > The Ministry of Culture and Information, which issued the new rules, did
not divulge the penalties for breaking them.
> >
> > Under current law, however, Internet offenses in the tightly controlled
communist country are punishable by fines of up to $3,250 or up to three
years in jail.
>


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