Vietnam’s newspaper editor-in-chief faces removal for abusing rights Kim Quoc Hoa, who is facing removal from his post as the editor-in-chief of Nguoi Cao Tuoi (The Elderly) newspaper because of "abusing freedom and democratic rights". Tuoi Tre The website of Vietnamese newspaper Nguoi Cao Tuoi (The Elderly) has had its license revoked after publishing articles which “abuse freedom and democratic rights,” while its editor-in-chief is facing removal from his post, authorities said Monday.            This information was released by the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) at a press briefing held yesterday to announce the conclusions of the sudden inspection of the newspaper from November 7, 2014 to January 7, 2015. The ministry said it had asked the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) to handle the case and also recommended that the Vietnam Association of the Elderly should dismiss Kim Quoc Hoa, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper.  According to a report from the MPS’s investigation agency, after receiving the case file from the MIC, the agency has commenced criminal proceedings against the newspaper for writing, editing and publishing articles whose content violates the State’s interests or legitimate rights and interests of organizations and citizens. Standing deputy chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association Ha Minh Hue said “the MPS’s inspectors have conducted their inspection seriously and in accordance with applicable regulations.”   Truong Minh Tuan, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications is seen at a press briefing on February 9, 2015. Photo: Tuoi Tre Individuals who committed wrongdoings as stated in the inspectors’ conclusion are those who violated the professional ethics of journalists, Hue said. Hue said the association will revoke Hoa’s membership card based on the evidence provided by the inspectors. Hoa has had his press card withdrawn and the website www.nguoicaotuoi.org.vn has been shut down, according to the MIC. Regarding the proposed dismissal of Hoa as editor-in-chief, Cu Thi Hau, chairwoman of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, said any removal must be based on specific wrongdoings. “In order to resolve the issue, the association's standing committee will have to convene a meeting. I, as the chairwoman of the association, have no right to do it [the removal],” Hau said.  Signs of abusing freedom and democratic rights At the press briefing, Truong Minh Tuan, Deputy Minister of the MIC, said the inspection was conducted at the request of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly. During the process, the MIC inspectors detected many wrongdoings committed by the newspaper from January 1, 2013 to October 30, 2014, Tuan said, adding that administrative or criminal treatment will be applied to the wrongdoings, depending on their nature.   Cu Thi Hau, chairwoman of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly. Photo: Tuoi Tre According to the inspection’s conclusions, the newspaper violated regulations on the license for setting up an electronic news website at www.nguoicaotuoi.org.vn. Through this website, Nguoi Cao Tuoi provided information that is untrue, distorting, slandering and offensive to agencies and organizations and to the honor and dignity of individuals. Regarding the print newspaper, Nguoi Cao Tuoi published a number of complaints that had no legal foundation, together with groundless comments and inference, thus providing the public with wrong information. In addition, the newspaper carried a number of stories showing signs of disclosing State secrets, violating regulations on the protection of State secrets, and other articles with signs of abusing freedom and democratic rights, and infringing upon the State’s interests or legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals. The inspectors also said Nguoi Cao Tuoi committed other violations on authorship, publication of corrections, and advertisement publication. TUOI TRE NEWS