After social network users in Vietnam created a wave speaking out against the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, for organizing the national press award ceremony “For the development of Literature, Culture, Sports and Tourism” on the evening of September 13 at the Hanoi Opera House, which was considered by people too loud and offensive.
The ceremony included music and dancing, which was not suitable for the tragic atmosphere of Hanoi, after an apartment fire in which dozens of people died.
At that time, Hanoi President Tran Si Thanh requested a temporary suspension of entertainment activities in the capital city on September 14-17 to commemorate the victims of the fire. The state-controlled media also said that while Hanoi stopped cultural, sports and entertainment activities and events, many theaters were managed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, such as the Vietnam contemporary art theater and the Central Puppet Theater continue to organize performances on the evening of September 16.
Yet, in response to the public reaction, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism immediately issued a document requesting the Ministry of Information and Communications to direct the authorities to handle those who criticized the leadership of this ministry. Specifically, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong, signed an official dispatch with the purpose of “taunting” the people. This official dispatch reads, “… the authorities need to take measures to handle a number of Facebook accounts that have taken advantage of the fire to distort and make objectionable comments against Party and state leaders, seriously affects honor and reputation, and causes loss of trust among the people.”
It is known that the online community and some individuals have continued to criticize this behavior of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The ministry did not realize their mistakes, but instead tried to use state power to intimidate the people.
To the point, Mr. Nguyen The Ky, Chairman of the Central Council for Theory and Criticism of Literature and Art, said that it was a completely inappropriate behavior of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, because Vietnamese people still have “If a horse is sick, the whole herd is abandoning feeding.“
Responding to Thanh Nien newspaper, Mr. Nguyen The Ky said:
“That’s just the sickness. And this is when dozens of our compatriots died and dozens of others were seriously injured in fires and flash floods, then ‘the whole herd’ is not only sad but extremely mournful. Who could be indifferent, who could bear to sing a song, even softly. The children still know that. Moreover, organizing singing and dancing on stage during these sad days makes the whole society and the entire online community angry.”
And Mr. Nguyen The Ky also said:
“If you work in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, you must be aware that you are the one who must set an example for the whole country in cultural activities, rituals, and cultural behaviors at the national level. In matters related to disasters and funerals, everyone must learn from the teachings and regulations of their ancestors. In terms of culture and humanity, it is unacceptable.”
The online community in general believes that the behavior of the ministry is unacceptable. This behavior is the same mentality as “parents and mandarins” in feudal times. They always consider themselves right, think they have the right to do anything, and no one has the right to object.
For decades, the Communist Party of Vietnam has continuously campaigned to learn from Mr. Ho Chi Minh’s ideology and moral example, but do not understand, do Vietnamese leaders remember Mr. Ho’s famous saying, “Cadres are public servants, servants of the people. The government does not do well and the people have the right to fire the Government.” And Mr. Ho also said, “Democracy is to help people open their mouths.”
We would like to ask the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in particular, and leaders in ministries and branches from central to local levels in general, what will they think? Are you public servants or do you want to be the parents of the people trying to act like gangsters?.
Tra My – Thoibao.de
