New security law tightens liberties

An excerpt from Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Dec. 22:

Vietnam is set to introduce a new public security law that will grant Vietnam's prime minister and security services extensive powers in cases deemed to affect national security, government officials said Wednesday. Under the new law, the prime minister is allowed to take measures including; putting surveillance on people and vehicles, banning any meeting or gathering of people, and controlling the use of telecommunications, according to a senior official from the legal department of the presidential office, who requested anonymity. "It will come into effect as of July 1, 2005," said Pham Thanh Ha, deputy head of the administrative division of the presidential office. Military and police agencies dealing with national security are allowed to intercept any mail that may contain "harmful" documents, and security services are also authorized to suspend telecommunications in Vietnam, Phap Luat Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh (Ho Chi Minh City Law) newspaper reported.