Chương 3 Luật Báo chí 1989: Nhiệm vụ và quyền hạn của báo chí

Chapter 3:

TASKS AND POWERS OF THE PRESS

Article 6. Tasks and powers of the press

The press shall have the following tasks and powers:

1.To convey true information on the domestic and world situation;

2. To disseminate, popularize the Party’s lines, directions and policies, the State’s laws, cultural, scientific, technical achievements of the country and the world, according to the guiding principles and objectives of the press bodies; to contribute the raise of the people’s knowledge, meeting the people’s fine cultural needs, protection of the nation’s fine traditions, building and development of the socialist democracy, strengthening the entire people’s unity bloc, building and defense of the nation;

3. To reflect and guide social opinion; to be as a forum for people to exercise the right of speech freedom;

4. To discover and display good persons, new factors; to combat against the violations of law and other negative phenomena in the society;

5. To broaden the mutual understanding between the countries and nations, to take part in the world people’s cause for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress.

Article 7. Provide for information to the press

Within the scope of its powers, its tasks, the organizations have the right and obligation to provide information to the press, helping the press to convey information accuratly, timely and take responsibilities before law for information content.

For cases under investigation or have not yet tried, the agencies which conduct the proceedings have the right not to provide information to the press, but press ia entitled to convey the information from their resources and take responsibility before law for information content.

Press has the right and obligation not to disclose the name of the person who provides information if such disclosure cause harms to that person, unless requested by the Chief Procurator of the People or the provincial-level or equivalent or more Tribunal presidents of People's Court in the case it is necessary for the investigation and trial of serious crimes.

Article 8. Reply in the press

The Heads of the press has the right to request the organizations, persons holding position to repond the problems which citizens convey in the press; organizations, persons holding position are responsible for respond in the press.

Organizations and citizens have the right to request the press to repond the problems which citizens convey in the press; press bodies are responsible for answering.

Press agencies which detect or receive complaints and denunciations by citizens about the signs of crime must report immediately to the investigating agencies or the Procuracy in writing, the investigating agencies, the Procuracy are responsible for receiving the information and responding to the press on the solutions.

Article 9. Correction in the press

If the press conveys untrue or distorted information, slanders or infringes upon the prestige of organizations, the honor or dignity of individuals, it must correct and apology or issue, broadcast a correction or apology of organization, citizen. In cases the press bodies fail to make corrections or make unsatisfied corrections; fail to publish or broadcast organizations’ or individuals’ speeches of correction without legistimate reason, such organizations or individuals shall have the right to lodge complaints to the governing agencies of such press bodies or initiate a lawsuit at court.

The correction of the press agencies, of organizations and citizens must be published, broadcast timely and matches with the information which needs correction.

Article 10. Matters not to be published in the press

For the purpose of proper use of the right of speech freedom in the press, the media must comply with the following conditions:

1 – Not to incite people against the State of Socialist Republic of Vietnam, undermine the unity of the people;

2 - Not to incite violence, propagate aggressive wars, sow hatred among nations and peoples, incite obscenity, demoralization and crime;

3 - Not to reveal state secrets: secrets of military, security, economy, foreign relations and other confidentiality promulgated by law;

4 - Not to give false information, misrepresentation, slander for insulting the honor of the organization, the honor and dignity of citizens.