June 4, 2008
Australia has urged Vietnam to let the country’s media do its job, following the arrests of two journalists who had criticised a 2006 government corruption scandal.
Australian envoy Bill Tweddell has spoken out against the arrests last month of Nguyen Van Hai and Ngyuen Viet Chien.
The two reporters work for the newspapers Tuoi Tre and Thanh Nien.
Two years ago they led aggressive reporting of a scandal involving transport ministry officials who allegedly embezzled funds and then gambled the proceeds on football matches.
Mr Tweddell says media freedom in the communist country is crucial if Vietnam is to win its battle against corruption.