Seminar: Internet Freedom in Viet Nam, Myanmar and China | Wed, 28 May 2025, NCCU

Join us for an engaging panel discussion on internet freedom across Viet Nam, Myanmar, and China. This event brings together experts to discuss the state of internet freedom, digital rights and censorship in these three countries.

Hosted at NCCU and co-organized by International Doctoral Program in Asia-Pacific Studies (IDAS), the Graduate Institute of Development Studies (GIDS) course ‘Democracy and Democratisation in East and South Asia’, ARTICLE 19, and Legal Initiatives for Vietnam, the event will feature presentations from three speakers on each country, followed by a Q&A session, and lunchboxes for registered attendees.

We look forward to seeing you there!

• Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 
• Time: 12:00 – 13:30
• Location: National Chengchi University (NCCU), North Wing of General Building, 7F,  Seminar Room 270723.
• Registration: Click here to register

Organizers:

• NCCU International Doctoral Program in Asia-Pacific Studies (IDAS)
• NCCU Graduate Institute of Development Studies (GIDS) course ‘Democracy and Democratisation in East and South Asia’
• ARTICLE 19 
• Legal Initiatives for Vietnam

Agenda:

12:00 – 12:05: Opening remarks by Professor Chao-chi Lin (NCCU IDAS)

12:05 – 12:15: Introduction to ETIF, Engage Tech for Internet Freedoms – ARTICLE 19 – online

12:15 – 12:45: Speakers’ presentations:

• Trịnh Hữu Long (Interim Executive Director, Legal Initiatives for Vietnam) on Internet Freedom in Viet Nam 
• Sai Arkar (Human Rights Defender with Fortify Rights) on Internet Freedom in Myanmar – online
• Aleksandra Bielakowska (Advocacy Manager, Reporters Without Borders, Asia-Pacific Bureau) on Internet Freedom in China

12:45 – 13:25: Q&A and discussion moderated by Alfred Wu (Head of the Asia-Pacific Programme at ARTICLE 19)

13:25 – 13:30: Closing Remarks by Professor Mei-Chuan Wei (NCCU GIDS course ‘Democracy and Democratisation in East and South Asia’)

Speakers: 

• Trịnh Hữu Long: Aside from being the Interim Executive Director of Legal Initiatives for Vietnam (LIV), he is in charge of Luật Khoa Magazine, a Vietnamese publication covering Vietnam’s law and politics. He began his career in 2008 as a legal counsel for some companies in Hà Nội and became a democracy advocate and journalist in 2011. He has worked for various media and human rights organizations such as Tia Sáng magazine (2011-2012), Tuổi Trẻ newspaper (2012), and VOICE (2013-2016). He has a background in law and Asia-Pacific studies, specializing in Vietnam’s constitutional law, freedom of expression, internet freedom, and criminal justice, as well as Taiwan’s democratization. He has written and translated several books in politics and has been an author of the Vietnam Chapter of Freedom House’s Freedom on the Net reports since 2021. He earned a bachelor in law (LL.B) from Hanoi Law University in 2008 and a master’s degree in Asia-Pacific studies from Taiwan’s National Chengchi University in 2024.

• Aleksandra Bielakowska: For the past eight years, Aleksandra Bielakowska has been based in Taiwan, where she currently serves as the RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau Advocacy Manager and President of the RSF Taiwan Chapter. Aleksandra also used to work as the Taiwan Correspondent for the Polish Press Agency and research assistant in Taipei City Government. A graduate of the University of Warsaw and National Chengchi University in Chinese Studies and International Relations, her expertise centres on East Asia, with a special focus on China’s political and social issues as well as human rights. In the past four years, she has been actively engaged in campaigning in support of the media and journalists in China, including #FreeJimmyLai and #FreeZhangZhan campaigns.

•  Sai Arkar: Sai Arkar is a dedicated human rights defender based in Myanmar and now with Fortify Rights. This independent, non-profit organisation is committed to ensuring and defending human rights in Southeast Asia and beyond by investigating human rights violations, engaging those in power, and strengthening the work of human rights defenders. Sai is deeply involved in critical activities, including the rigorous investigation and documentation of human rights violations. He also actively engages with individuals in positions of authority and provides crucial support to human rights defenders and communities impacted by abuses. Currently, Sai’s work is concentrated on documenting the Myanmar junta’s relentless airstrikes across the country, which have devastating impacts on civilian populations. He is also a vocal advocate for the fundamental principles of freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Myanmar.

Moderator: 

• Alfred Wu: Alfred Wu is the Head of the Asia-Pacific Programme at ARTICLE 19, based in Taiwan. He supports the strategic direction and implementation of the organization’s work across the region. Alfred has over 15 years of experience working on democracy and governance issues, with a background in  international development and civil society engagement. Prior to joining ARTICLE 19, he worked with the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Myanmar, the National Democratic Institute in Taiwan, and the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) in Yangon.