US bill interferes in Vietnam's internal affairs: FM spokeswoman
(VNA - March 13, 2003)
The presentation of a bill aiming "to promote the freedom of information in Vietnam" is an interference by the US in Vietnam's internal affairs, stated spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry Phan Thuy Thanh in Hanoi on Wednesday.
The bill is a step backwards in the improving relationship between Vietnam and the United States, Ms Thanh said, demanding the US House of Representatives' Committee for International Relations annul the bill.
Ms Thanh's comments were in response to questions from correspondents of the Vietnam News Agency and the Tuoi Tre (Young People) newspaper who asked her about Vietnam's reaction to Bill H R 1019, presented recently to the US House of Representatives by Mr Royce and Ms Lofgren.
Ms Thanh described the bill as an erroneous assessment of Vietnam's situation. "In Vietnam, citizens' fundamental rights, including freedom of speech, the freedom of the press and the right to receive information are stated clearly in the Constitution," she said.
"The Vietnamese people take an active role in the political, economic and social life of the country. They are provided with sufficient information and entitled to comment on all important national matters. Freedom of information in Vietnam is evident in the number of newspapers and the diversification of means of communication in Vietnam in recent years, Ms Thanh stressed."
She told the correspondents that Vietnam now has 486 news and press agencies turning out more than 600 publications. As many as 550 million copies of these publications are printed annually. Voice of Vietnam (VOV) radio and Vietnam Television (VTV) have both increased the amount of broadcasting time, transmitting their programmes to all localities throughout the country, including remote areas and isolated islands.
More than 80% of Vietnamese households have access to VOV broadcasts and 70% have access to VTV programmes. In addition, all provinces and cities have their own local radio and television stations and the number of hours are on the rise. Vietnamese people are also provided with favourable conditions to access information via the Internet.
