Bbc Reporter Blocked From Leaving Vietnam

A regular passport renewal travel and family sojourn has turned into a superior ordeal aft a BBC journalist was blocked from leaving Vietnam and many times questioned by police.

The journalist, a Vietnamese nationalist surviving and moving successful Thailand, travelled to Vietnam successful August to use for a caller passport. Although a renewed passport was issued, authorities withheld it on pinch different personality documents. Over respective days, constabulary reportedly questioned nan newsman astir their work, sources and reporting methods.

The BBC confirmed that nan journalist has been “unable to time off nan state for months” because their documents stay withheld. The broadcaster said it was concerned for nan reporter’s information and called connected nan Vietnamese authorities to let them to recreation freely.

The timing of nan lawsuit is politically sensitive. Vietnam’s General Secretary, Tô Lâm, is presently visiting nan UK, and supporters of nan journalist dream nan British premier curate will raise nan issue. They reason that beardown negotiated ties should not travel astatine nan disbursal of quality authorities aliases property freedom.

Since taking complete arsenic General Secretary of nan Communist Party successful August 2024, Tô Lâm has tightened power of nan media and accrued unit connected independent voices. Most outlets successful Vietnam are state-run, and journalists must travel strict authorities guidelines. Independent blogs and societal media accounts captious of nan authorities are often blocked, while writers and activists consequence apprehension for publishing worldly seen arsenic “anti-state.” In May, Vietnam banned nan printed version of The Economist aft it featured Tô Lâm connected its screen pinch stars complete his eyes.

In nan 2025 Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders classed Vietnam 173rd retired of 180 countries, noting that journalists and independent bloggers are often jailed for their reporting.

Rights groups person condemned nan move arsenic an onslaught connected property freedom. Phil Robertson, of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates, warned that nan journalist could look further reward and imprisonment unless nan UK intervenes. He said nan newsman should “be allowed to time off nan state immediately”.

For now, galore are waiting to spot whether nan UK will request nan journalist’s safe exit erstwhile engaging pinch Vietnam connected waste and acquisition and diplomacy. The lawsuit is simply a stark reminder of nan risks journalists look successful countries wherever nan media is tightly controlled.