Vietnam arrests well-known blogger for criticism

TodayOnlineLogo.gifFormer journalist behind ‘Another point of view’ blog faces up to 7 years in jail for ‘abusing democratic freedoms’

HANOI (AP) — Vietnamese police have arrested one of the country’s best known bloggers for posting criticism of the communist government.

The arrest of 49-year-old Truong Duy Nhat is the latest in an intensified crackdown against dissent in the one-party state.

Tuoi Tre newspaper reported today (May 27) that police arrested Mr Nhat at his home in central Danang City yesterday and he was flown with a police escort to the capital Hanoi for further investigation.

He was accused of “abusing democratic freedoms”, an offense that carries up to seven years in prison.

Mr Nhat was a reporter at a state-run newspaper before quitting more than two years ago to focus on his blog Mot goc nhin khac, which translates into “Another point of view”.The blog has been taken offline since Mr Nhat’s arrest.

His posts have often criticised the government, including one calling for the prime minister and the Communist Party chief to resign. (AP)

*Source: http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/vietnam-arrests-well-known-blogger-criticism

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