Liberated media relishes its free rein on graft exposures
State-run media shows signs of free speech as publications call for the transport minister to step down
HANOI - "Dao Dinh Binh must be sacked!" screamed the headline in one of Vietnam's leading newspapers at the weekend.
The Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper article's call for the head of Mr Binh, the transport minister, is just the latest salvo in the highly charged coverage by Vietnam's increasingly aggressive media of a corruption scandal that may cost him his job.
The state-controlled Vietnamese media, more commonly associated with meek promotion of the good deeds of the ruling communist party, has mercilessly pummelled a big-budget road construction department, Project Management Unit 18, within Mr Binh's ministry, in recent weeks.
It began with the allegation that the head of PMU18, Bui Tien Dung, gambled away millions of US dollars in state money on football matches. Since then, the media has reported that PMU18 has given friends and colleagues luxury cars paid for by the state, appointed several unqualified family members of Mr Dung's to key jobs, "devised schemes to suck money out of contractors" and more.
The result has been a full-blown public scandal. Newspapers say their offices have been deluged with thousands of letters from an outraged public. Mr Dung and other officials have been arrested or suspended. And now Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has formally asked the communist party to suspend Mr Binh from his duties, at least until the continuing investigation is concluded.
It is all a stark contrast with the dominant image of the Vietnamese media: one that is duty-bound to routinely "make love to the government", in the words of Vietnamese writer Nguyen Quang Than.
Vietnam is ranked a lowly 158th of 167 countries in Reporters Without Borders' 2005 Worldwide Press Freedom Index, one spot up from China.
One reason for the contrast is that the authorities have set the media loose on graft cases as part of state-orchestrated efforts to get a handle on corruption.
But there is little doubt the Vietnamese media is increasingly relishing this unaccustomed role.
"Five years ago, we also strongly reported on graft cases, but we didn't ask any government officials to resign from their posts," said Nguyen Quoc Phong, deputy editor-in-chief of Thanh Nien newspaper. He said growing public intolerance of corruption had also given the media more courage.
By David Marsh - The South China Morning Post - April 4, 2006.
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