Journalist Đỗ Doãn Hoàng.— Photo vietnamnet.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Information and Communications’ Journalist Department yesterday ordered Hà Nội’s Police Department to quickly identify three suspects who attacked journalist Đỗ Doãn Hoàng from the Lao Động (Labour) newspaper on Wednesday morning.

Hoàng, 40, received multiple injuries after being beaten by three men wielding sticks near Kim Văn-Kim Lũ Residential Area in Hoàng Mai District. Hoàng said the attack occurred while he was on duty and driving a motorbike.

He said that fortunately he was wearing a helmet when he was attacked, so his head was not wounded.  He reported the incident to district police immediately after it occurred.

A representative of the district police told online newspaper Zing.vn that the police were still working on identifying the three suspects.

Thuận Hữu, a member of the Party Central Committee and President of the Vietnamese Journalist Association, told local media on the sidelines of the National Assembly meeting yesterday that the association would do everything in its power to protect its members. The association is supervising the police investigation to ensure the rights of the journalist are respected.

Hoàng, an investigative journalist, has won the National Press Prize four times. His investigative articles cast a spotlight on serious social issues, including wildlife trafficking.

Under a 2013 Government degree, threatening or attacking a journalist on duty carries a fine of VNĐ20-30 million (US$895-1,340).

Under the 2015 Penal Code, which is set to take effect on July 1, the crime carries a sentence of 3-5 years in prison. — VNS