Two singers denounced, banned

Vietnam's Ministry of Culture and Information on November 22, issued a temporary ban on the broadcast of any songs performed and written by two overseas singers who defected to the U.S. last year, for supposedly distorting Vietnam's situation. As summarized by Vietnam News Briefs, "all songs sung by former musical stars in Vietnam, Thu Phuong and Bang Kieu, and compositions written by Bang Kieu will also be excluded in all public performances and publications such as CDs, VCDs, and videos, the national cultural watchdog instructed."

Thu Phuong , 34, with her husband quit the Hanoi Youth Theater in Feb. 2003 and traveled to the U.S. without a permit. Once in the U.S. she criticized the political situation in Vietnam and declared herself to be a "freed bird". Bang Kieu, who came to the U.S. last year in order to marry an overseas Vietnamese singer, is accused of waving the flag and singing the national anthem of the former regime of South Vietnam during performances in the Philippines and Canada. (HCM City Police Nov 25 p13, Pioneer Nov 24 p2; Vietnam News Briefs Nov. 25).