Renowned journalist and historian Truong Huy San, a vocal critic of the Vietnamese government, was reportedly detained by state security agents in Hanoi last week. San, known by his pen name Huy Duc, had recently published articles criticizing the country's political situation.
Several prominent freedom-of-expression organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and PEN America, have called for San's immediate release. They expressed concerns that he may be targeted for his critical writings and urged transparency from the Vietnamese authorities regarding his apprehension.
San's detention was first reported by Vietnamese online dissidents after he failed to attend a scheduled public event and his Facebook page, with over 350,000 followers, was suddenly deactivated without explanation.
A former officer in the Vietnamese Army, San has been an independent journalist since 2009, known for his insightful social commentary and opposition to the communist government. His disappearance follows a series of critical essays directed at Communist Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong.
Vietnam, ranked 174th out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, has a history of suppressing press freedom. The country is listed as the fifth worst jailer of journalists globally, with at least 19 reporters imprisoned as of last year.
San's detention comes amid political shakeups in Vietnam, with Public Security Minister To Lam recently promoted to president. Analysts speculate that these changes may be linked to the succession plan for the new party general secretary, expected to replace the current 80-year-old Trong by 2026.
Truong Huy San's contributions to journalism and his critical insights on post-war Vietnam have earned him international recognition, including fellowships at the University of Maryland and Harvard University. He was also featured in Ken Burns' documentary 'The Vietnam War.'
