Chapter VI
COMMENDATION AND HANDLING OF VIOLATIONS
Article 20.- Commendation
1. Press bodies, journalists, organizations and citizens that make achievements and contributions to the press activities shall be commended and/or rewarded according to the State�s regulations on commendation.
2. The Government shall provide budget support for annual press awards to outstanding press works.
Article 21.- Handling of violations
The press bodies; the parent agencies of the press bodies; the heads of the press bodies, journalists, people involved in press activities; other organizations and individuals that commit acts of violating the legislation on the press shall, depending on the nature and seriousness of their violations, be disciplined, administratively sanctioned or examined for penal liabilities according to law provisions.
The sanctioning of administrative violations must comply with the provisions of the Government’s Decree No.31/2001/ND-CP of June 26, 2001 on sanctioning administrative violations in the field of culture and information.
Article 22.- Competence for handling violations
1. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall be competent to handle administrative violations in the press activities of organizations and individuals throughout the country.
2. The People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities shall be competent to handle administrative violations in the press activities of organizations and individuals in localities.
In cases where the presidents of the People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities unsatisfactorily handle violations, the Minister of Culture and Information shall decide on the appropriate handling forms.
3. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall decide on the withdrawal or confiscation of publications, audio and video tapes and disks; temporary suspension of the publication or withdrawal of the press activity permits; and withdrawal of press cards.
In emergency cases, the presidents of the People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities shall have the right to issue provisional orders but must immediately report such to the Minister of Culture and Information for consideration and issue of official decisions.
4. The competence for sanctioning administrative violations shall comply with the Government’s Decree No. 31/2001/ND-CP of June 26, 2001 on sanctions against administrative violations in the field of culture and information.