Journalists Imprisoned in 2017 - Phan Kim Khanh
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | 31 December 2017 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, Journalists Imprisoned in 2017 - Phan Kim Khanh, 31 December 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a5c93065.html [accessed 10 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Vietnam Weekly, Anti-corruption Newspaper | Imprisoned in Vietnam | March 21, 2017
| Job: | Internet Reporter |
| Medium: | Internet |
| Beats Covered: | Corruption |
| Gender: | Male |
| Local or Foreign: | Local |
| Freelance: | Yes |
| Charge: | Anti-state |
| Length of Sentence: | Not Sentenced |
| Reported Health Problems: | Yes |
Khanh was arrested at his home on March 21 in the Cam Khe district of northern Phu Tho province, according to news reports. The government announced on its official Facebook page that Khanh had been detained on charges of "propagandizing against the state," an anti-state offense outlined under Article 88 of the penal code punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The government statement said Khanh posted "fabricated and distorted" information against Vietnam on two blogs, three Facebook pages and two YouTube channels, reports said.
Khanh established and managed two pro-democracy news websites, Vietnam Weekly and Anti-corruption Newspaper, according to the reports. Vietnam Right Now, an independent news website, reported that Khanh had recently posted allegations of official corruption on one of his blogs.
On October 25, Khanh was sentenced to six years in prison and four years house arrest by the People's Court of Thai Nguyen province for propagandizing against the state, according to Danlambao, an independent Vietnamese language news site. Khanh's father, Phan Kim Dung, was permitted to attend the trial, but several activists who went to show their support were barred, Radio Free Asia reported.
Khanh suffered from bleeding caused by hemorrhoids, a condition he did not suffer prior to his detention, according to his sister, Phan Thi Trang, who communicated with CPJ via an intermediary. Prison authorities refused to accept medicine and clean clothes brought by his father during a 2017 prison visit, she told CPJ.
Khanh was being held at Cam Son commune, Phu Luong district's prison in Thai Nguyen province, Trang told CPJ.
