stitutions of the system. The result was the beginning of a crackdown on an apparently unprecedented scale against the "negative phenomena" throughout the country All sectors of the mass media participated, particularly in the larger cities. For the first time, corrupt high officiais in the Party and State hierarchies - a topic formerly considered "tabou" - were specifically named and condemned. The whole process of investigation and prosecution was actively assisted by mass participation.

The torch of truth also shed light on the servile nature of the press and media, yet another taboo topic in Communist Vietnam. The media people's "auto-criticism" opened the hidden files on the VCP's totalitarian information policy and dogmatic censorship. According to Thai Duy, one of the outstanding figures of the Vietnamese press, there was much evidence of news expurgation in the reporting of serious socio-economic difficulties or controversial political events.31 Behind a smokescreen of acclaims and exaggerated praise profusely bestowed on exportation or Plan achievements,

...The press keeps turning its back to the immensely pressing issues of everdayli fe, often intention ally peoticizing, embellishing life which is a far cry from the picture presented by the press, the radio and television networks ...

...completely absent are news reports investigating social inequities, indicating the hypocrisy of the profiteers exploiting the sweat and tears of the working
people32

Nguyen Khac Vien was more explicit about the authoritarian pattern of communication and the suppression of the rights of the press:

Our press is not interesting because of its one-way character. It only transmits the message of the leadership to the people but it rarely publishes what the people want to say to the leaders ...

... We are now lacking in democratic practice because debates and exchanges of views are absent. The top forbids open speech, the base dares not express itsel f.33

From the editorship of Saigon Giai Phong, we have another pitiful confession, admitting that "in some circumstances, the daily has been an accomplice of falsehood, begetting illusion, and finally engendering loss of faith"34 This very confession frankly admitted that:

The daily often turns out poor and monotonous information which is restricted to a few limited topics. Occurring everyday from many fields of li fe, a lot of big and small events attract the mass interest and have a bearing on their welfare but are neglected by the daily that does not provide correct analysis to guide opinion ...

... News void of information can be read quite often. In the report of a meeting, for instance a People Committee's meeting, the message is always beating around the bush with information about the participating members, the agenda, the naine and fonction of the speechmaker, etc ... The meeting ends up with "success" ... As regards the actual proceedings, are they interesting or borin g, are there debates and argumentations concerning the welfare of the people, how the role of a representative institution is performed? - the news says nothing.

... Therefore the information provided by the newspaper is both insufficient and redundant. Lack of vital, necessary news. Lack of useful information in every message. Redundancy of inutile news ...3s
Previously taboo topics were now openly discussed by Hie official media exposing
corruption, injustice and maladministration.
Oct-Dec 1990	Indochina Report 7