In Vietnam: Being a Blogger Could Land You In Jail, Cost You Your Life 144
An anonymous reader writes "Bloggers in Vietnam are increasingly finding themselves thrown in jail. Despite freedom of speech being enshrined in the nation's Constitution, many who speak out against the government are thrown in jail — thanks to a new law that forbids such talk. In one desperate act, Dang Thi Kim Lieng lit herself on fire outside the Bac Lieu People's Committee building in southern Vietnam. She died of her injuries. She was protesting the detention of her daughter who was arrested for blogging against the government. Three other bloggers are scheduled be tried under section 88 of the criminal code, which relates to propaganda against the nation. A maximum sentence could carry with it 20 years in jail."
Western Governments do this too (Score:4, Interesting)
Libel Law: "In theory, the objective of defamation laws is to balance protection of individual reputation with freedom of expression. In practice, defamation laws are frequently used as a means of chilling speech. A threat of (costly) defamation proceedings and damages, whether or not a plaintiff's claim is likely to be upheld by a court, is often used to silence criticism not only by a particular person or group but also as a threat to others."
https://www.efa.org.au/Issues/Censor/defamation.html [efa.org.au]
The UK defamation bill will do little to stop corporations suing individuals and should include a public interest defence
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/jun/27/libel-reform-get-right-defamation-bill [guardian.co.uk]
UK Libel reform campaigners demand better public interest defence
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/jun/27/libel-reform-campaigners-public-interest-defence [guardian.co.uk]
It doesn't affect only bloggers: Even journalists are restricted by what they can say:
http://www.thenewsmanual.net/Resources/medialaw_in_australia_02.html [thenewsmanual.net]
Explanation of UK Libel Law
http://www.urban75.org/info/libel.html [urban75.org]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_defamation_law [wikipedia.org]
The Australian Journalist's Defamation Checklist: Can you run this story?
http://www.hss.bond.edu.au/defamkit/ [bond.edu.au]
And if they report something embarassing to the Government, then it is jail time:
http://www.thenewsmanual.net/Resources/medialaw_in_australia_06.html [thenewsmanual.net]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Secrets_Act [wikipedia.org]
http://www.caslon.com.au/secrecyguide4.htm [caslon.com.au]
The government redacted 90% of the recent proposal to snoop on Internet Usage. You would think the public have a right to know, but it's National Security if they say it is:
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/no-minister-90-of-web-snoop-document-censored-to-stop--premature-unnecessary-debate-20100722-10mxo.html [smh.com.au]
Re:"Sounds like the United States" (Score:4, Interesting)
Assange is leaking military secrets intended to kill US servicemen in a war authorized by our Congress
You are an idiot if you think he is doing it to try to kill servicemen. And I hate the name servicemen, it sounds like plumbers and carpenters. Call them what they are: soldiers. Be honest and stop trying to give them a nice name. They kill for a living, and they accept the risk of death as part of their occupational hazards.
Nothing he has leaked has resulted in anybody dying. So your entire argument is invalid.
Not just the USA, Holland too (Score:3, Interesting)
The Russian girl group Pussy Riot is in jail for daring to challenge Poetin during a protest.
The Dutch government is protesting. But a Dutch protester who threw a small candle (the kind that go under tea pots) against the golden carriage carrying the queen has been in jail for two years.
And no, minor acts of vandalism are NOT typically sentenced like this. Throw ice-balls causing damage to cars and you don't even get arrested. But dare to do it against the absolute ruler and BAM, in jail for two years.
Democracy, you say you have it, so you don't have to do it.