Vietnam is considering a clampdown on performing artists who make what it considers to be ‘false statements’ online or offend public morality through their words and actions.
Nguyen Thi Than Huyen, who works in the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information at the Ministry of Information and Communications, said her ministry has asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to come up with a series of punishments, including a ban on performing live, online or on radio and television, according to the Thanh Nien newspaper.
Other sanctions being considered include blocking artists’ social media channels and cutting off their advertising income.
Huyen told a conference on online activity in the past year, held on Thursday, that the ministry will evaluate artists’ behavior in 2022 and wants to impose sanctions on offenders in 2023.
Offending artists currently face a fine of between VND5 million and VND15 million (US$212-US$635), according to Le Quang Tu Do, Director of the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information.
He said he doesn’t think the fine is sufficient and even if the amount was increased it wouldn’t be enough of a deterrent.
Former intelligence officer Vu Minh Tri told RFA he doesn’t support the plan.
“Every individual is equal under the law. Whoever breaks the law must be dealt with by the relevant authorities, including artists. But artists and writers live by composing and performing. Banning them from doing this means cutting off their livelihoods. It also prevents them from contributing their talent to society."
A Hanoi lawyer, who gave RFA the pseudonym Binh for security reasons, said if artists make mistakes that are not serious enough to warrant criminal charges a fine should be enough.
“The authorities should not implement such a harsh policy. If it is decided that the current fine is not enough it should be increased 10 to 15-fold,” Binh said, adding that the current Law on the Handling of Administrative Violations does not include broadcasting and performance bans. He said the government would need to amend the law if it wants to punish artists in this way.
Binh told RFA he also thinks the Vietnamese public would boycott writers and artists who don’t maintain ethical standards, making it hard for them to continue performing anyway.
He gave the example of singer Hien Ho who was recently forced to cancel a performance at Ho Chi Minh City’s University of Food Industry after students complained about social media posts showing her with a married man.
Influencer Phuong Ngo, who has more than 60,000 Facebook followers, said she supports a performance ban on writers and artists who carry out illegal or immoral acts.
“Is Showbiz a place to incubate talent or is it a nest, a place for gangs of clowns and singers to run wild? Speaking, dancing or performing like a fool or a lunatic will infect a whole generation of uneducated young people. There is a need for clear, consistent, reasonable and fair regulations,” she said.
Guitarist Minh Khue, who has been performing for 20 years, told RFA he thinks Vietnamese artists have too much freedom and tougher sanctions are needed to control their behavior.
“Every environment should be cleaned up as much as possible. Society will develop better and be more beautiful," he said. “Not only this profession but also State officials and anyone with authority who thinks they’re above the law. If we strictly implement these measures it will be good for a truly developed and civilized society."
Another Hanoi lawyer, who gave the pseudonym Trung for security reasons, said if the government brings in tougher measures to punish artists it needs to clarify what constitutes breaking the law. He added that it should be left to the legal system to decide penalties rather than two government ministries.
Trung said even though there are currently no clear regulations, many artists have been banned from broadcasting or performing without any government ruling. He gave the cases of actor Hong Dang and music lecturer Ho Hoai Anh who were accused of rape in Spain earlier this year and haven’t been able to work since returning to Vietnam.
Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Written in English by Mike Firn.