(Reuters) – The latest print edition of Asia Economist with the participation of Vietnam’s best leader to LAM on his cover is banned in Vietnam, sources of two distributors of local media, to Reuters, in a new case of censorship in the communist -governed side.
The May 24th edition, which is still available in the country in its electronic version, presents a two -star lam on a red background, in a reference to the national flag of the country, with the title: “The man with a Vietnam plan”.
The subtitle of his main story in Vietnam said: “The difficult man of the Communist Party must save the history of great success in Asia.”
The Vietnam Foreign Ministry said there was no information on the matter.
The ministry in charge of public information did not respond to requests for a comment on the prohibition.
The economist did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside the UK hours.
Vietnam routinely prohibits books, films and other cultural works and multiple media are also prohibited.
“We were ordered to tear off the cover and the article about it (LAM), making the magazine no longer sold. We were later ordered not to sell it at all,” said CEO of the distributor NGay Moi, refusing to be baptized because she was not allowed to speak with the media.
A second distributor employee, Global Book Corporation, said that the Vietnam Ministry, responsible for public information, banned the distribution of this particular question without being developed on motivations.
A third source in the Xunhasaba distributor said it did not have this problem as it did not receive enough orders.
Vietnam, an industrial center in Southeast Asia, is confronted with a major moment as it seeks to consolidate a prolonged economic boom against the background of tariff tension in the United States, which can undermine its growth -oriented growth.
The economist’s article describes LAM as an ambitious leader who appeared “from the state of security” and which “must become a reformer” in order to adjust the economic model of the country and make it more ill.
The 67-year-old Lam rose from the powerful Ministry of Public Security, which he has been leading for years to reach the summit of Vietnam’s political hierarchy last year after a monthly power struggle, first becoming president and then leader of the Communist Party, the best work of the country.
The economist’s cover and articles have been diverted thousands of times to social media by users in Vietnam with mixed reactions.
“Vietnam steps confidently into a new growth era – and the world notices,” said Yumi Tao Nguyen, sales manager, LinkedIn with a connection with the economist.
Le thi kim ngoc, a self -written “Socialist Republic of Vietnam,” said on Facebook that the characteristics of LAM economist as a firm man “undermine serious political and social developments currently taking place in Vietnam.”
The country is ranked 173rd by 180 surveyed nations in the latest print freedom index, published by reporters without borders, a non-profit organization.
Authorities in the one-party nation often detain people for “anti-state” online comments and maintain strict control over the press and social media.
Last week, the Vietnam Technology Ministry ordered the ban on the Telegram Message Application for suspected crimes committed by its users, noting in an internal document that the platform hosted groups created by “opposition and reaction entities”.
Multiple app users in the country cannot gain access to it this week. Telegram did not respond to a request for a comment on the implementation of the prohibition. Earlier, she said she was “surprised” by the measure, noting that she meets the newly introduced requirements.
(Reporting by Reuters employees; editing by Michael Perry)